Age Discrimination

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the Government intend to introduce legislation on age discrimination in the provision of goods, facilities and services.

Meg Munn: The Discrimination Law Review is considering the case for prohibiting age discrimination in the provisions of goods, facilities and services and the exercise of public functions. We expect to publish a Green Paper around the turn of the year. The Green Paper is intended to lead to a Single Equality Bill, in line with the Government's manifesto to introduce such a Bill in this Parliament.

Correspondence

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she will reply to the letter from Woburn Town Council of 20 June about the proposed expansion of Milton Keynes.

Yvette Cooper: A reply was sent to the Clerk to the Councillors of Woburn Sands Town council on 21 July 2006 by the Government Office South East.

Councillor Conduct

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what representations she has received from the Adjudication Panel for England on clarification of the councillors' code of conduct.

Phil Woolas: The Adjudication-Panel's annual report for the year ending 31 March 2006 includes its formal response to a review of the code of conduct which was carried out by the Standards Board for England in 2005 at the request of Ministers. It can be viewed at www.adjudicationpanel.co.uk/documents/pdf_annual_report_2006_for website2.pdf, and copies have also been placed in the Library of the House.

Councillor Conduct

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance the Government and Standards Board of England has provided to local authority councillors on avoiding  (a) bias and  (b) the appearance of bias in addition to the local government code of conduct for councillors.

Phil Woolas: The Department for Communities and Local Government has issued no guidance on bias. This is a legal concept which the courts have always applied to local authority decision-making. It predates the code of conduct and is not altered by it.
	The Standards Board's guidance, Lobby Groups, Dual-Hatted Members and the Code of Conduct, published in September 2004, contains some general advice on bias in order to draw a distinction between this and the separate issue of personal and prejudicial interests, which is covered by the code. The Board issued a press release on 19 September which also referred to this issue.

Environmental Building Standards

Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent assessment she has made of the requirements made by Planning and Policy Guidance applying to environmental building standards; and if she will take steps to ensure that they are amended to assist the reduction of the carbon footprint of new buildings.

Yvette Cooper: National planning policy set out in Planning Policy Statement 1 (PPS1) expects the development plans prepared by regional planning bodies and local planning authorities to contribute to global sustainability through policies which reduce energy use, reduce emissions (for example, by encouraging patterns of development which reduce the need to travel by private car, or reduce the impact of moving freight) and promote the development of renewable energy resources.
	We have said we will publish for consultation by the end of the year a new PPS on climate change. This will set out how the Government expect participants in the planning process to work towards the reduction of carbon emissions in the location, citing and design of new development.

Gambling Act

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance  (a) the former Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and  (b) the Government Offices of the regions have produced for regional assemblies in relation to the Gambling Act 2005.

Yvette Cooper: No guidance has been issued by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister or the Government Offices of the regions for the regional assemblies in relation to the Gambling Act 2005.
	The Government published a statement of national policy on casinos on 16 December 2004. This statement includes guidance on planning for casinos by Regional Planning Bodies and also deals with the role of Regional Planning Bodies in connection with the work of the independent Advisory Panel which provides advice to the Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport on the areas in which casinos should be located.
	The ODPM worked closely with DCMS in drafting a letter of 27 October 2005, from DCMS to the North West Regional Assembly, clarifying the role of regional planning bodies and their regional spatial strategies in relation to the work of the Casino Advisory Panel, reflecting the advice set out in the December 2004 statement.

Housing

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average cost is of renovating an empty home in each of the housing low demand pathfinder areas in England.

Yvette Cooper: We do not hold information on the cost of renovating empty homes in pathfinder areas. However the pathfinders do provide figures for the average cost of all refurbishments and improvements carried out each year, including refurbishments to the Decent Homes standard as well as more minor improvements. The following table lists average costs for 2005-06. We do not know how many of the refurbished or improved properties were empty.
	
		
			  Pathfinder  Average cost of refurbishments and improvements carried out during 2005-06 (£000) 
			 Birmingham Sandwell 1.9 
			 East Lancashire 9.0 
			 Hull and East Riding(1) n/a 
			 Manchester Salford 5.2 
			 Merseyside 0.4 
			 Newcastle Gateshead 17.0 
			 North Staffordshire 0.7 
			 Oldham Rochdale 2.1 
			 South Yorkshire 14.0 
			 (1) We do not have a figure for Hull and East Riding because they did not carry out any refurbishments or improvements in 2005-06.

Housing

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what financial incentives she will offer Mid Sussex district council to deliver the Department's housing targets.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 26 October 2006
	The Government have recently consulted on a Housing and Planning and Delivery Grant as a potential incentive for local authorities to help deliver additional housing to respond to the housing needs of their communities. The consultation closed on 17 October and the Government are currently considering the responses to it.

Housing

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people are on the housing waiting list in the London Borough of Sutton.

Yvette Cooper: There were 3,408 households on the housing waiting list in Sutton, as at 1 April 2006(1).
	Not everyone on the waiting list is necessarily in urgent housing need. The waiting list includes those who consider social housing as their preferred or one of a number of housing options, and those who decide to get on to the waiting list ladder before they need or want to move house.
	 Source:
	(1) Department for Communities and Local Governments Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix, HSSA).

Land Classification

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 2 October 2006,  Official Report, columns 2541-45W, on land classification, what assessment she has made of the reason for the change in vacant and derelict land and buildings in Southend-on-Sea between 2002 and 2003; and if she will list the three vacant and derelict sites in Southend-on-Sea in 2003.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 30 October 2006
	In 2002 Southend-on-Sea borough council reported three vacant or derelict sites in its return to the National Land Use Database of Previously-Developed Land:
	Shoeburyness Old Ranges, Campfield road—76 hectares;
	64 to 65 Eastern Esplanade (northern part of former Gas Board site)—2.6 hectares;
	Former Queen's Hotel, Hamlet Court road—0.4 hectares.
	In 2003 the first of these three sites had been developed and was removed from the database. The other two were still undeveloped. No new vacant or derelict sites were reported in 2003.

Local Government White Paper

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to her statement of 26 October 2006,  Official Report, column 1657, on the local government White Paper, what information was made available by her Department before her statement to local councillors which enabled them to express their views on her proposals.

Phil Woolas: We have engaged extensively with external stakeholders on the issues considered in the Local Government White Paper. Through the 'local:vision' process we formally consulted a wide range of stakeholders across the public, private and the third sector, on key issues for local government. We have also held innovative city summits, ministerial dialogues and continued our regular discussions with local authorities individually and through representative bodies including the Local Government Association.
	Local councillors have been able to express their views in a number of ways and they have been instrumental in developing the policy content.

Mobile Telephone Masts

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many planning applications for mobile telephone masts were  (a) referred to and  (b) granted by the Planning Inspectorate in each of the last five years.

Yvette Cooper: The following table shows the number of planning appeals  (a) received, decided and  (b) allowed by the Planning Inspectorate concerning telecommunication masts, aerials, dishes and antenna from each year from 2000 to 2006 (January to September). It is not possible to extract numbers for those appeals relating solely to telephone masts.
	
		
			   Appeals 
			   (a) Received  Decided  (b) Allowed 
			 2000 313 167 109 
			 2001 623 437 276 
			 2002 871 761 517 
			 2003 637 705 413 
			 2004 762 478 252 
			 2005 800 797 424 
			 2006(1) 667 593 324 
			 (1) January to September.

New Homes (Design Standards)

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans there are to merge Housing Corporation and English Partnership new build design standards for homes.

Yvette Cooper: Common standards on housing regarding sustainability already apply to English Partnerships and the Housing Corporation. Since 1 April 2006 all new homes funded by each body have had to meet EcoHomes 2006 Very Good standard. The Code for Sustainable Homes is currently being finalised and is due to be published before the end of the year. It will make it a requirement that all new homes funded by English Partnerships and the Housing Corporation will have to meet a minimum of level 3 of the Code.
	In the meanwhile English Partnerships and the Housing Corporation will continue to work together to identify areas of commonality in new build design standards for homes and best practices so both can learn from each others experiences.
	We are currently reviewing English Partnerships and the Housing Corporation as part of the review of the institutional structures for delivering housing and regeneration, and we expect to make an announcement shortly.

PFI Projects

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much has been spent by her Department on Private Finance Initiative projects postponed pending further consideration or stopped in the last 12 months.

Yvette Cooper: Only two projects sponsored by the Department for Communities and Local Government have been stopped in the last 12 months and one postponed. The amount spent is associated with staff time for which costs have not been recorded. The cost of obtaining these figures is likely to be disproportionate in relation to the amount spent.

Section 106 Agreements

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on how many occasions in the last five years section 106 agreements have been included in the approval of a planning application by the Planning Inspectorate.

Yvette Cooper: The Planning Inspectorate does not hold information on the number of appeals that have involved Section 106 agreements.

Social Housing

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many affordable housing units  (a) built and  (b) procured through the Housing Corporation National affordable Housing Programme in 2005-06 were (i) mixed funded social rented housing, (ii) temporary social rented housing, (iii) homebuy general market purchase, (iv) homebuy general new build, (v) mixed funded low cost home ownership for sale, (vi) miscellaneous works to registered social landlord (RSL) stock, (vii) reimprovements to rented RSL stock, (viii) works only rehabilitation of rented RSL stock, (ix) works only rehabilitation of RSL stock for sale, (x) intermediate rent for key workers, (xi) homebuy market purchase for key workers, (xii) homebuy new build for key workers, (xiii) mixed funded sale for key workers and (xiv) starter home initiative in the North-east Region in each year since 1997-98; and how much was spent on each category.

Yvette Cooper: The following table shows completions, new build and procured, through the Housing Corporation Affordable Housing Programme (formerly the Approved Development Programme), for categories from (i) to (ix).
	The Key Worker Living Programme is limited to London and the wider south-east, therefore there are no completions in the north-east region.
	
		
			  Completions in Units for the north-east region from 1997-98 to 2004-05 
			  Allocation statement 
			   1997-98  1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-08 
			  (i) Mixed funded social rent 
			 New build 1,027 807 691 442 648 285 513 560 612 910 
			 Procured 202 167 68 98 32 70 70 52 23 12 
			
			  (ii) Temporary social rented housing 
			 New build 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Procured 39 9 2 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			
			  (iii) Homebuy market purchase 
			 New build n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Procured 0 0 0 18 11 8 3 3 4 3 
			
			  (iv) Homebuy new build 
			 New build n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 0 66 n/a 
			 Procured n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			
			  (v) Mixed-funded low cost home ownership( 1) 
			 New build 182 130 87 93 110 6 21 88 73 228 
			 Procured 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			
			  (vi) Miscellaneous works 
			 New build n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Procured n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			
			  (vii) Re-improvements to rented RSL stock 
			 New build n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Procured n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			
			  (viii)Works-only re-hab for rented RSL stock 
			 New build n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Procured n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			
			  (ix) Works only re-hab of RSL stock for sale 
			 New build n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 (1) Shared Ownership completions from 1997-98 to 2005-06. In 2006-08 programme allocation for New Build HomeBuy. Notes:1. Miscellaneous works, re-improvements to rented RSL stock, works only rehabilitation of rented RSL stock and works only rehabilitation of RSL stock for sale are not recorded as completed dwellings as they may have previously received funding and would therefore be double counted.2. Figures for 2006-08 are based on the Housing Corporation's Allocation Statement for the North East following approval of their 2006-08 Affordable Housing Programme.

Legal Aid

John Baron: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs 
	(1)  how much in legal aid money has been spent on the third generation combined oral contraceptive pill litigation; how much has been paid to each  (a) barrister and  (b) firm of solicitors in connection with the case; what hourly rate was paid in each case; and whether these payments represent risk rates paid so that service providers would be unlikely to profit in the eventuality of the case being unsuccessful;
	(2)  if she will list the  (a) barristers and  (b) firms of solicitors who acted for the legally aided claimants in the Third Generation Combined Oral Contraceptive Pill litigation.

Vera Baird: This case concerned a multi party action (MPA) against the manufacturers of Femodene and other third generation oral contraceptive pills, for allegedly causing personal injury, including cardiovascular injuries to those who consumed them. Approximately 120 women were funded to bring proceedings against the manufacturers. This culminated in a 13-week trial during 2002. The total cost to the legal aid fund was £9.9 million. The case did not succeed, but had it done so, then as with all civil cases against privately funded parties, significant damages would likely to have been awarded and the legal costs subsequently met by the opposing parties. The net cost to the legal aid fund would then have been very little, or even nothing.
	Legal aid was reformed in 2000 to exclude personal injury cases from receiving funding. However in some exceptional cases an independent panel of experts advises the Legal Services Commission (LSC) to grant funding, especially where the panel believes the case has "significant wider public interest", as they did with this litigation. Given the wide availability of Femodene and other third generation oral contraceptive pills, the panel decided that it was important for the public to know they could have confidence in the product licensing system and therefore advised the LSC to fund the litigation.
	The solicitor firms involved were Houghton and Co and Leigh Day and Co. Houghton and Co were paid £7,365,969 and £948,361 in disbursements. A single costs assessment certificate was issued by the court to Houghton and Co as the lead solicitor firm under the MPA contract. I understand that of this total, £1.8 million was paid to Leigh Day and Co.
	The solicitors were paid prescribed rates under the Legal Aid in Civil Proceedings (Remuneration) Regulations 1994. There are a variety of rates reflecting the work carried out.
	The rates for this action included the following:
	Preparation—£74.00 to £79.50 per hour
	Routine letters out —£7.40 to £7.50 per item
	Routine telephone calls—£4.10 to £4.15 per item
	Attending hearing or conference with counsel—£36.40 to £37.00 per hour
	Attending hearing without counsel—£32.70 to £33.25 per hour.
	Additionally, enhancements ranging between 75 per cent. to 200 per cent. were assessed as reasonable by the court for items of work carried out under these rates depending on the complexity of the specific work carried out.
	The barristers were paid under the brief fee and refresher fee structure applied to civil litigation, which did not then include hourly rates.
	The following table lists how much was paid by way of brief fees and refresher fees to barristers that were paid a brief fee in the action.
	
		
			  £ 
			  Barrister  Brief Fee  Refresher 
			 Lord Brennan Q.C. 250,000 97,500 
			 Robin Oppenheim 134,500 58,000 
			 William Edis 114,500 54,750 
			 Richard Hermer 104,500 40,000 
		
	
	Other barristers were also paid for work on the case but they were not paid brief fees or refresher fees and did not take part in the trial.
	Risk rates were not paid for this action. The funding arrangements were agreed before the introduction of the MPA contract terms in 1999, which introduced risk rates.

Parliamentary Boundaries

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether the Boundary Commission takes account of the number of European nationals eligible to vote in local elections but not in general elections when considering English parliamentary boundary changes.

Bridget Prentice: European nationals not eligible to vote in general elections are not taken account of by the Boundary Commission in their reviews of parliamentary constituency boundaries. This is because the Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986 currently requires a Boundary Commission to work only with the
	"the number of persons whose names appear on the register of parliamentary electors".

Royal Family

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs which individuals have been designated as "other members of the Royal family" under section 37 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Vera Baird: My Department's guidance on section 37 (which is published at http://www.foi.gov.uk/guidance/exguide/sec37/annex_a.htm) contains a list of members of the Royal Family since 1 January 1975 (as at June 2004) comprising those entitled to use the title Majesty or Royal Highness and their spouses (since 1 January 1975). The list will change over time, especially through marriage or birth. This guidance was published in June 2004 and when it is next updated it will include newer members of the Royal Family such as the Duchess of Cornwall.

Digital Switchover

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment her Department has made of the likely effect of digital switchover on the economy; what assessment she has made of the consequences for the economy of changes to the planned timetable; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: The economic impact of digital switchover on the UK economy is set out in cost benefit analyses produced by DCMS and DTI economists. The most recent estimates were published in a report by DCMS and DTI in February 2005. I am arranging for copies of the report to be placed in the Library of both Houses. The report is also available from www.digitaltelevision.gov.uk
	The February 2005 estimates indicated that a two-year delay in the completion of digital switchover would lead to a reduction of benefits of around £400 million in net present value terms, based on conservative assumptions about the future use of spectrum released by switchover.

Playing Fields

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on what occasions since April 2000 the Playing Field Monitoring Group has met; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: The Playing Fields Monitoring Group met 12 times from April 2000 on the following occasions: 10 July 2000; 6 October 2000; 12 January 2001; 14 June 2001; 26 September 2001; 17 December 2001; 15 January 2002; 11 April 2002; 6 November 2002; 29 January 2003; 21 May 2003; and 27 May 2004. This particular group no longer meets, but my Department continues to liaise closely with the organisations that were represented on the group.

Afghanistan

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 4 September 2006,  Official Report, column 1688W, to the hon. Member for Vale of York (Miss McIntosh), on British troops (Afghanistan), if he will describe the welfare facilities for armed service personnel serving in  (a) Kabul,  (b) Camp Bastion,  (c) forward bases in Helmand province and  (d) other operational theatres.

Derek Twigg: Personnel serving in Kabul and Camp Bastion have access to the following Operational Welfare Package facilities:
	Expeditionary Forces Institute retail and leisure facilities.
	Access to the internet and 30 minutes of publicly funded telephone calls per week.
	A free Forces Aerogramme and Forces Postcard service and a subsidised postal packet scheme that allows parcels up to 2kg to be sent at the UK inland rate.
	An electronic Aerogramme service.
	Televisions and British Forces Broadcasting Service transmissions.
	DVD players and DVDs.
	Video gaming machines and games.
	Radios and British Forces Broadcasting Service transmissions.
	Combined Services Entertainment personality visits.
	Newspapers.
	Magazines.
	Books.
	Board games.
	Operational fitness equipment.
	In addition to this standard Operational Welfare Package provision, and recognising the need for extra deployable equipment capable of operation in the forward bases, the following facilities have been provided in Afghanistan:
	TEXTLINK e-mail that allows e-mail, SMS texting and letters to be transmitted between theatre and the UK.
	IRIDIUM hand-held satellite telephones that enable access to the 30 minutes of free welfare calls per week.
	Onward delivery and uplift of mail and electronic aerogrammes via the base location on routine resupply tasks.
	For other operational theatres the Operational Welfare Package has enabled the MOD to provide sustainable operational welfare to personnel on operational deployments and exercises that are of two months or more in duration and outside North West Europe. The exact composition of the Operational Welfare Package will depend on specific circumstances such as the nature and duration of the deployment; the operational situation in-theatre and the environment and infrastructure of the country in which the operation is taking place.

Animal Experiments

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last reviewed the need for the use of animals in experiments relating to naval personnel.

Adam Ingram: The research programme that advises on safe procedures and treatments for submariners escaping from a disabled submarine, undertaken by QinetiQ at Alverstoke under contract to the Ministry of Defence (MOD), was last reviewed in 2003 by the Defence Scientific Advisory Council (DSAC). This review confirmed the need for continued investigation into sequential improvements in escape and rescue procedures and the necessity of experiments on large animals. All scientific procedures involving the use of animals undertaken, sponsored or funded by the MOD are regulated by The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 and as such are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Armed Forces Pension Scheme

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost was of extending survivors' benefits in the Armed Forces Pension Scheme to unmarried partners in each year since such provision was introduced.

Derek Twigg: The Armed Forces Pension Scheme 1975 (AFPS 75) extended survivors' benefits to unmarried partners in 2003 but only in cases where death was caused by service. The new pension schemes, Armed Forces Pension Scheme 2005 (AFPS 05) and the Reserve Forces Pension Scheme 2005 (RFPS), both feature pensions for eligible partners irrespective of the cause of death.
	The MOD makes a substantial contribution into the armed forces pension schemes each year for the approximately 200,000 current members. The current overall contribution equates to 24.8 per cent. of the armed forces pay bill. This contribution covers the differing benefits offered by each of the armed forces schemes run by the MOD. The necessary calculations could be undertaken only at disproportionate cost.

Armed Forces Pension Scheme

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the estimated cost of the armed forces pension scheme will be in each year from 2001-02 to 2030-31.

Derek Twigg: The actual net resource costs (in accordance with accounting standards) of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS) from financial year (FY) 2001-02 to 2005-06 are detailed as follows. Estimates for FY 2006-07 to 2009-10 based on statistical and actuarial evaluation are also shown. Figures for future, years could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The published accounts for the AFPS show the overall provision for future scheme liability.
	
		
			  Net resource costs 
			  Financial year  £ 
			  Actual costs  
			 2001-02 1,381,772 
			 2002-03 1,333,631 
			 2003-04 3,481,850 
			 2004-05 3,294,301 
			 2005-06 4,341,400 
			   
			  Estimated costs  
			 2006-07 4,588,662 
			 2007-08 4,756,731 
			 2008-09 4,928,911 
			 2009-10 5,105,349

Army Recruitment

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of those who applied to join the Army in 2005 were subsequently refused entry on medical grounds.

Derek Twigg: The number of medical rejections for those who applied to join the Army in Financial Year 2005-06 were as follows:
	
		
			   Applications  Medical rejection  Percentage 
			  Officers 1,910 140 7.3 
			  Soldiers 35,020 1,910 5.5 
		
	
	All figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. Statistics are only available by Financial Year not Calendar Year.
	Some of these medical rejections will be deferrals and candidates may well re-apply at a future date.

Army Recruitment

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the  (a) production and  (b) logistics costs of the 2006 Forward as One Army recruitment commercials were; and where and when they were filmed.

Derek Twigg: The 2006 Forward as One Army recruitment commercials were filmed in Chile during November 2005 and formed part of the infantry multi media recruiting campaign that ran from January to March 2006. Total cost for the 2006 Forward as One Army commercials was £1.24 million, excluding VAT, of which £1.195 million was production and £45,000 logistics costs.

Ceremonial Duties/Parades

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his assessment is of the impact of the current tempo of operations on royal and ceremonial duties and parades.

Derek Twigg: There has been no impact on any royal and ceremonial duties and parades throughout the United Kingdom. The majority of Royal and Ceremonial Duties and Parades are the responsibility of London District, which is appropriately resourced for the task, despite the operational tempo.

Chaplains

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many chaplains of each denomination are serving in each of the armed forces; and how many there were in  (a) 1997 and  (b) 2002.

Des Browne: The number of trained Chaplains in the UK Regular Forces broken down by Service and denomination is shown in the following table. It is not possible to show Chaplains in the Naval Service broken down by denomination at April 1997 and April 2002 as historical data are not held centrally. In addition to the Christian Chaplains shown in the table, Chaplains from the four main non-Christian faiths were appointed in October 2005, one each from the Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim and Sikh faiths. These Chaplains are MOD civil servants rather than Service personnel. There is also an Honorary Officiating Chaplain to minister to those of the Jewish faith.
	
		
			   1 April 1997  1 April 2002  1 April 2006( 1)  1 September 2006( 1, 2) 
			 Naval Service(3) 70 70 65 70 
			 Baptist n/a n/a (4)— (4)— 
			 Church of England n/a n/a 35 35 
			 Church of Scotland n/a n/a 10 10 
			 Free Church of Scotland n/a n/a (4)— (4)— 
			 Methodist n/a n/a (4)— (4)— 
			 Roman Catholic n/a n/a 10 10 
			 Army 150 150 145 145 
			 Baptist (4)— 5 5 5 
			 Church of England 80 75 70 70 
			 Church of Ireland 10 10 10 10 
			 Church of Scotland 15 15 15 15 
			 Church of Wales (4)— 5 (4)— (4)— 
			 Episcopalian—Scottish (4)— (4)— (4)— (4)— 
			 Free Church of Scotland 0 0 (4)— (4)— 
			 Methodist 10 10 10 10 
			 Presbyterian—Ireland (4)— (4)— (4)— (4)— 
			 Presbyterian—Scotland (4)— (4)— 0 0 
			 Roman Catholic 20 25 25 20 
			 Unified Reformed Church (4)— (4)— (4)— (4)— 
			 Royal Air Force(3) 80 75 75 (5)70 
			 Baptist (4)— (4)— (4,5)— n/a 
			 Church of England 55 50 (5)45 n/a 
			 Church of Ireland 0 (4)— (4,5)— n/a 
			 Church of Scotland 5 5 (5)5 n/a 
			 Free Church of Scotland (4)— 0 (5)0 n/a 
			 Methodist (4)— 5 (5)5 n/a 
			 Presbyterian (4)— (4)— (4,5)— n/a 
			 Roman Catholic 10 10 (5)10 n/a 
			 Unified Reformed Church (4)— 0 (5)0 n/a 
			 n/a = not available(1) Naval Service totals for April 2006 and September 2006 include five Christian Chaplains of unknown denomination. Army totals for April 2006 and September 2006 include fewer than five Christian Chaplains of unknown denomination.(2) Due to the introduction of a new personnel administration system, a breakdown of RAF Chaplains by denomination is not available at September 2006, and the breakdown of RAF Chaplains by denomination at April 2006 is provisional. The total figure for RAF Chaplains at September 2006 is provisional pending review.(3) Naval Service includes Royal Navy and Royal Marines.(4 )denotes fewer than five. All other figures have been rounded to the nearest five.(5) denotes provisional Note:UK Regular Forces includes Nursing services and excludes Full Time Reserve Service personnel, Ghurkhas, the Home Service battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment and mobilised reservists.

Exertional Heat Illness

Joan Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what procedures are in place to conduct inquiries following a non-fatal incident of exertional heat illness; and what the standard procedure is for the follow-up examination of soldiers surviving such an incident.

Derek Twigg: Medical investigations following a non-fatal incident of exertional heat illness (EHI) are carried out at the time of injury and then at the Institute for Naval Medicine (INM) after referral for treatment. In the instance of multiple casualties or fatalities, a board of inquiry (BOI) will be convened to investigate.
	Heat illness casualties are reported, via the chain of command, to the single Service Medical Directorates. In high risk environments, formal reporting systems for heat illness are introduced.
	All personnel who have had a significant episode of EHI, more than one episode of EHI or required urgent admission to hospital with EHI are subsequently referred to the Heat Illness Clinic at the INM for further investigation. Thereafter, personnel may return to their unit, sometimes with employability restrictions depending on the severity of their condition since after one episode of EHI there is an increased risk of further episodes for a variable period of time.

Marine David Ward

Joan Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the recommendations of the coroner were following the inquest into the death of Marine David Ward on HMS Albion; and what his response was to each recommendation.

Derek Twigg: In order to provide a substantive answer to your question it is necessary for officials to recall the documentation from archives in order to review and examine the relevant details associated with the recommendations. This will take approximately five working days after which time I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Mental Health

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) service personnel and  (b) veterans were treated by the Duchess of Kent Psychiatric Hospital in the last five years it was used; how many treatment days were provided; what the cost was, broken down by type of treatment; and which treatments were transferred to the Priory Group.

Derek Twigg: All in-patient mental health services (i.e. the full range of pharmacological and psychotherapeutic treatments including for alcohol and drug dependency) were transferred to the Priory Group with effect from 1 April 2004.
	Costs in the final year of operation of the Duchess of Kent Psychiatric Hospital (2003-04) were some £10 million. The department no longer holds centrally figures on the number of treatment days provided there or the costs in each of its last five years.

Middle East

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 2 October 2006,  Official Report, column 2572W, to the hon. Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew), on the Middle East, what the UK role is in leading an interim cell in Lebanon to coordinate support to the Lebanese armed forces and security sector reform; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 26 October 2006
	A UK team visited Paris, Rome, Brussels, Beirut, Washington and New York to determine how best to take Security Sector Reform (SSR) in Lebanon forward, and to identify a framework for international support. In the short term, the British embassy in Beirut is providing a co-ordination role for offers of assistance to the Government of Lebanon, in conjunction with other embassies. We are currently working with the EU and wider international community to establish the right approach for longer term SSR in Lebanon.

Territorial Army

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what plans he has for the Chorley Territorial Army Centre, Lancaster House; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what plans he has for the role of the Chorley Detachment of 5 General Support Medical Regiment; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  when the kitchens are expected to be re-instated at Chorley Territorial Army Centre, Lancaster House;
	(4)  what the reasons are for the transfer of Chorley Detachment of 5 General Support Medical Regiment from detachment to a squadron status; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: holding answer 26 October 2006
	Under TA Rebalancing, the Chorley Detachment (re-designated as 64 (Chorley) Medical Squadron) will provide an element of 5 General Support Medical Regiment's contingent component, supporting its regular counterparts in the event of large scale deliberate interventions. In addition it will provide individuals, on a voluntary basis, to backfill posts in 5 General Support Medical Regiment and other army medical units as required.
	To enable the contingent component element to be met Chorley Detachment was required to increase its manpower liability and is now designated as a Squadron. The Chorley Detachment was also considered suitable for uplift to a Squadron as, historically, Chorley has a long established tradition of Territorial Army service and additionally the close location of its parent Regiment offers potential benefits.
	We intend to retain Lancaster House and discussions are currently underway to establish the improvements required to meet future accommodation requirements including any necessary upgrade to the kitchen facilities.

Hospitality and Gifts

Tim Loughton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what gifts or hospitality he has received or given in relation to his ministerial duties in the last 24 months.

John Prescott: The Government's annual list detailing ministerial gifts was published on Monday 24 July 2006. Copies are available in the Library for the reference of Members.
	As is the case for all other Ministers, details of any gifts I receive this year valued at more than £140 will be included in the list which will be published as soon as possible at the end of the financail year.
	These processes were introduced by this government; they did not exist under the previous Administration.
	Where relevant, hospitality received is recorded in the Register of Members' Interests.

Older Home Owners

Jim Cousins: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions he has had with his Cabinet colleagues about the problems facing older low-income owner-occupiers.

John Prescott: The Government has made unprecedented investment in increasing financial support to low income pensioners. In addition to lifting many pensioners out of absolute poverty since 1997, over £400 million each year is made available to local authorities to help poorer home owners to maintain their homes whilst the Warm Front programme is investing £800 million by 2008 in grants for private housing, mostly to low-income older people.

South Korea

Nigel Evans: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions he has had with South Korean politicians regarding that country's relationship with North Korea.

John Prescott: I met with the South Korean Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and the Foreign and Trade Minister, who is Secretary General designate of the United Nations. These meetings covered bilateral, regional and international issues which, of course, included discussion of the relationship with North Korea. The hon. Member may also be aware that I had an opportunity to lay a wreath in honour of UK soldiers who died during the Korean War both at the War Memorial of Korea, as well as at the site of a significant battle involving British soldiers in Gloster valley.

Post Office Network

Danny Alexander: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on the future of the Post Office network since May 2006; and if he will make a statement.

John Prescott: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave today to the hon. Member for Wellingborough (Mr. Bone).

Freedom of Information

Oliver Heald: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many Freedom of Information Act requests his Office has received since the recent machinery of government changes; how many (a) are in train, (b) are concluded and (c) were answered within 20 working days.

John Prescott: I refer the hon. Member to the freedom of information statistics published on a quarterly basis by the Department for Constitutional Affairs. These are available in the Library for the reference of Members.

Accident Reporting

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will introduce a vocational training accident reporting procedure as part of  (a) the teacher training curriculum,  (b) classroom teaching and  (c) placement officer training.

Jim Knight: Schools and colleges are responsible for arranging placements and introducing students to general health and safety issues at work. They also have a general duty of care towards students on placements, and organisers of work experience placements have particular responsibilities under Health and Safety legislation to place students in a healthy and safe environment. The provisions of the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR) apply to students on work experience. Where an accident occurs on the premises of a work experience provider, the responsibility for reporting it and informing the school lies with the provider.
	For school teachers, the qualified teacher status standards already require all newly qualified teachers to manage teaching and learning safely and effectively. In further education it would be expected that as part of their training and education in their own specialism, teachers will have health and safety awareness and knowledge of appropriate procedures specific to their area of vocational expertise. In both sectors they must also be aware of, and work within the statutory frameworks relating to teachers' responsibilities, and these frameworks include those relating to safety.
	There are no current plans to introduce specific mandatory training on vocational training accident reporting procedures as part of core ITT qualifications in either the schools or further education sectors.

Age Discrimination

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if his Department will  (a) carry out an age audit of its staff to establish an age profile of its workforce,  (b) negotiate an age management policy with trade unions and employees to eliminate age discrimination and retain older workers,  (c) identify and support training needs and offer older staff flexible working to downshift towards retirement and  (d) extend to over-fifties the right to request to work flexibly and the right to training with paid time off; and if he will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Department believes that everyone should have an equal opportunity to meet their aspirations, realise their full potential and improve their life chances. To that end, we regularly equality monitor our HR policies and processes, and have a clear understanding of the impact of those polices/processes on different age groups within the Department, this includes access to development. We also take action if the monitoring shows any adverse impact on groups of staff.
	When detailed guidance was produced by ACAS on implementing the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 a project team was set up to consider and review the implications of the regulations on our existing HR policies and procedures. This found that most of our policies and procedures were age compliant. The exception was our age retirement arrangements, and we have now negotiated an agreement with our trade union side so that from the 1 October 2006 here is no mandatory retirement age and people can choose when they retire provided they continue to meet the normal fitness and effectiveness standards that apply to all staff.
	My Department, through its Equality and Diversity Deliver/Plan, is committed to
	supporting a range of flexible working patterns, including part-time working, job sharing and home-working. Any member of staff can negotiate a change in working pattern in addition to standard flexitime arrangements. In addition, people at age 60 can apply to take their pension and continue in employment either by reducing their hours of work or by downgrading without any financial detriment.
	Finally, all members of staff are encouraged to develop the blend of skills and experience that will enable them to be effective in their current post and to progress, if that is what they want to do. In April 2006 we launched an initiative under the Professional Skills for Government framework so that everyone in the Department can identify and develop the blend of skills and experience they need to be able to design and deliver customer-focused policies for the 21st century.

Departmental Redundancies

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many redundancies there were in his Department in each year since 1997; what the cost of such redundancies was in each year; how many temporary staff were employed in each year; and how many staff were seconded by outside organisations to posts within the Department in each year.

Parmjit Dhanda: The information is not available in exactly the same way as sought. There have been no redundancies in my Department since 1997 and we remain committed to minimise recourse to compulsory redundancies. Nonetheless, there have been voluntary early releases. From the 1997-98 financial year to the end of the 2005-06 financial year, the total number of such releases and the total cost to my Department, arising from the provisions of the Civil Service Compensation scheme, were as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
			  Financial year  Number of releases  Total cost to DfES 
			 1997-98 101 5.15 
			 1998-99 51 2.73 
			 1999-00 50 4.237 
			 2000-01 61 4.06 
			 2001-02 84 6.142 
			 2002-03 57 5.57 
			 2003-04 28 2.54 
			 2004-05 332 17.1 
			 2005-06 204 15.1 
		
	
	Data relating to the number of temporary staff employed in my Department during 1997 is not available. From 1998 to date the data is as follows:
	
		
			  Calendar year  Temporary staff employed 
			 1997 (1)— 
			 1998 230 
			 1999 272 
			 2000 241 
			 2001 215 
			 2002 116 
			 2003 100 
			 2004 76 
			 2005 60 
			 2006 28 
			 (1) Information not available 
		
	
	Data relating to inward secondees to my Department prior to July 2003 is not available. From July 2003 data until the end of the financial year 2003-04 and subsequent financial years 2004-05, 2005-06 is as follows:
	
		
			  Financial year  New inward loans from other Government Departments  New inward secondments from outside organisations  Total new inward loans and secondments 
			 2003-04 24 65 89 
			 2004-05 12 58 70 
			 2005-06 8 20 28

Education Funding

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what Government funding was available to the Havering local education authority in the 2005-06 fiscal year;
	(2)  what the level of funding per student at  (a) primary and  (b) secondary schools in (i) Havering local education authority and (ii) England is in 2006-07.

Jim Knight: The total funding available to Havering education authority for 2005-06 is contained within the following table:
	
		
			  2005-06  Funding 
			 All pupils aged 3-19 (£ million) 160.2 
			 Funding per 3-19 pupil (£) 4,250 
			  Notes: 1. Figures reflect relevant sub-blocks of education formula spending (EFS) settlements and include the pensions transfer to EFS and the Learning and Skills Council.  2. Total funding also includes all revenue grants in DfES departmental expenditure limits relevant to pupils aged 3-19 and exclude education maintenance allowances (EMAs) and grants not allocated at LEA level.  3. The pupil numbers used to convert £ million figures to £ per pupil are those underlying the EFS settlement calculations.  4. Some of the grant allocations have not been finalised. If these do change, the effect on the funding figures is expected to be minimal.  5. Both figures are in cash terms, including the pensions transfer. 
		
	
	With the introduction of Dedicated Schools Grant in 2006-07, there is no longer a separate funding spilt between primary and secondary schools but the following table gives a breakdown of the available data. The guaranteed unit of funding does not include an amount for specific grants as shown in the table above:
	
		
			  2006-07  Guaranteed unit of funding (£) 
			 Havering 3,718.84 
			 England 3,642.99

Education Funding

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what grant schemes are available in all education authority areas for primary schools; and which schools have taken advantage of those schemes;
	(2)  what grant schemes are available to  (a) primary and  (b) secondary schools in the Havering local education authority area; and which schools have taken advantage of such schemes.

Jim Knight: The following table shows the recurrent grants available to local authorities for schools in 2006-07 across both the primary and secondary sectors. The grants in the table are those made available to schools over and above their delegated school budgets. The amounts available for primary schools and for secondary schools are shown for those grants where this information is held centrally. School Standards Grants, School Development Grant and the Devolved School Meals Grant are allocated to all maintained schools. The distribution of the other grants to schools is determined locally after discussion with the local Schools Forum.
	Local authorities and their schools have also been allocated £12.3 billion for capital investment in schools across the current financial year and the next. Havering and its schools have been allocated funding of £23.7 million for capital investment in schools across the current financial year and the next. This is available for investment in
	buildings and information technology facilities in primary and secondary schools. It is the responsibility of local authorities and their schools to determine how they allocate these funds to different projects across the primary and secondary estate, taking account of local needs and priorities. Local authorities may supplement this if they are able to secure funding from other sources.
	
		
			  Recurrent grants available to schools 2006-07 
			  £ million 
			England  Havering 
			   Type of school eligible for the grant  Total allocation  Primary  Secondary  Total allocation  Primary  Secondary 
			 School Standards Grant Primary and Secondary 1,009 550 397 4.505 2.362 1.971 
			 School Standards Grant (Personalisation) Primary and Secondary 220 151 64 0.797 0.213 0.571 
			 School Development Grant Primary and Secondary 1,989 738 1,042 8.367 2.504 3.716 
			 Ethnic Minority Achievement (EMAG) Primary and Secondary 174 n/a n/a 0.205 n/a n/a 
			 English as an Additional Language Pilot Programme Primary and Secondary 1 n/a n/a 0 0 0 
			 Targeted Improvement Grant Primary and Secondary 5 n/a n/a 0 0 0 
			 Devolved School Meals Grant Primary and Secondary 30 n/a n/a 0.123 0.080 0.039 
			 Targeted School Meals Grant Primary and Secondary 50 n/a n/a 0.233 n/a n/a 
			 Extended Schools Primary and Secondary 67 n/a n/a 0.369 n/a n/a 
			 Targeted Support for Primary Strategy Primary 137 137 0 0.478 0.478 n/a 
			 Targeted Support for Secondary Strategy Secondary 105 0 105 0.314 0.000 0.314 
			 Aimhigher Secondary 30 0 30 0 0 0 
			 Fresh Start and New Partnerships (Recurrent and Capital) Primary and Secondary 6 n/a n/a 0 0 0 
			 Music at Key Stage 2 Primary 3 3 0 0.014 0.014 0.000 
			 London Challenge Primary and Secondary 16 n/a n/a 0.405 n/a n/a 
			  Note: The primary and secondary figures may not add up to the total allocation, as special schools and pupil referral units will also receive grant, and some grant may be retained centrally by the local authority.

English Language

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of secondary school pupils in  (a) Peterborough constituency,  (b) Peterborough city council area and  (c) England have English as a second language.

Jim Knight: The requested information is given in the table.
	
		
			  Maintained secondary schools ( 1) : number and percentage of pupils whose first language is known or believed to be other than English ( 2 ) as at January 2006 by Peterborough parliamentary constituency, Peterborough local authority area and England 
			Pupils of compulsory school age and above 
			   Number of pupils ( 2)  Number of pupils whose first language is known or believed to be other than English  Percentage of pupils whose first language is known or believed to be other than English ( 3) 
			 England (4) 3,306,570 314,950 9.5 
			 Peterborough local authority area 13,178 2,050 15.6 
			 Peterborough parliamentary constituency 8,214 1,824 22.2 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed.(2) Excludes dually registered pupils.(3) The number of pupils whose first language is known or believed to be other than English expressed as a percentage of the total number of pupils of compulsory school age and above.(4) Figures for England have been rounded to the nearest 10. Source: Schools' Census

GCSEs

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils gained A* to C GCSEs in  (a) French and  (b) German in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: The following table shows the number of 15(1)-year-old pupils gaining an A*-C grade in GCSE French and German in each year since 1997.
	
		
			   French  German 
			 (1) Aged 15 at the start of the academic year, i.e. 31 August.(2) Data for 2006 are provisional. Data for all other years are final. Note:Figures are rounded to the nearest 100. 
			 1997 149,500 68,900 
			 1998 149,100 69,400 
			 1999 158,000 71,900 
			 2000 158,500 69,800 
			 2001 165,300 73,200 
			 2002 161,100 70,800 
			 2003 150,200 65,300 
			 2004 150,200 68,000 
			 2005 143,200 65,100 
			 2006(2) 133,000 57,800

GCSEs

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of children left school with no GCSE qualifications in each year since the introduction of the examination.

Jim Knight: The information requested is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Proportion of pupils not gaining at least one A*-G( 1)  at GCSE and equivalent( 2) 
			   Percentage 
			 1988(3) 10.1 
			 1989 7.5 
			 1990 7.3 
			 1991 6.8 
			 1992 8.4 
			 1993 7.0 
			 1994 7.7 
			 1995 8.1 
			 1996 7.8 
			 1997 7.7 
			 1998 6.6 
			 1999 6.0 
			 2000 5.6 
			 2001 5.5 
			 2002 5.4 
			 2003 5.2 
			 2004 4.1 
			 2005 3.6 
			 2006(4) 3.4 
			 (1 )GCSE grade A* was introduced in 1994.(2 )Percentages from 1997 include GNVQ equivalencies. Percentages from 2004 include GCSEs and equivalents approved for use pre-16(3 )Figures for 1988 are taken from the School Leavers Survey, and include school leavers of any age from all schools except special schools.(4 )The 2006 figure is provisional. All other figures are final. Notes:1. Figures for 1989 to 1991 are taken from the School Examinations Survey, and are based on 15 year old pupils in all schools except special schools.2. Figures from 1992 onwards are taken from the School Achievement and Attainment Tables data, and are based on 15-year-old pupils in all schools including special schools.

Information Sharing

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether  (a) local authority staff,  (b) career advisers and  (c) voluntary workers who provide services to local authorities will have access to the information sharing index.

Beverley Hughes: We are currently consulting on draft regulations that will bring the information sharing index into operation. Among other issues, the regulations will specify the types of practitioners whose role would make it appropriate for them to have access to the index. The consultation specifically seeks views on whether practitioners, other than those specified in the regulations, should be given access to the index. The consultation closes on 14 December 2006.
	The draft regulations propose that from local authorities, local authority index management teams; Connexions advisors; social workers; educational welfare officers; head teachers; deputy head teachers; school administrators; heads of year or teachers with pastoral or child protection responsibilities; teachers of children with special educational needs and SENCOs, or their equivalents, and members of staff employed by voluntary and community sector organisations will be granted access.
	The regulations also propose that all practitioners with access will have undergone an enhanced Criminal Records Bureau check, and to have undergone relevant training in the appropriate use of the index.
	The index will be an important tool to help improve the communication between the key practitioners needed for the effective delivery of services for children and families and, when necessary, to protect children.

International GCSE

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  if he will include results of the International GCSE in achievement and attainment tables for secondary schools at GCSE and equivalent;
	(2)  whether pupils who achieve an International GCSE in English in accordance with the Coventry City Council and the North West Federation of Schools (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) Order 2005 (S.I., 2005, No. 1739) will be included in achievement and attainment tables as if they had passed a GCSE in English.

Jim Knight: The achievement and attainment tables can only report the results of qualifications which are approved by the Secretary of State for use in the maintained sector. Because the iGCSE is not an approved qualification it cannot be counted in the tables. The iGCSE has not been aligned with the national curriculum. We are, however, about to launch a consultation on the future use of the iGCSE in the maintained sector. That consultation will also consider whether any changes should be made to the tables coverage in future years.

Pensions

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much was spent on the Teachers Pension Scheme in each year since 1980-81; what forecasts he has made of how much will be spent in each year between 2007-08 and 2050-51; and how many members of the scheme there are.

Parmjit Dhanda: The following table provides the available figures for gross expenditure against the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS) for financial years 1991-92 to 2005-06. Estimates for future years are included within the total figures for gross spending on unfunded pension schemes that were published in the December 2005 'Long-term Public Finance' report by HM Treasury. The TPS Accounts for 2005-06 cited 590,032 active members, 391,016 deferred members and 488,132 pensioner members.
	Expenditure against the TPS (all figures shown on cash basis)
	
		
			  £ billion 
			 1991-92 2.161 
			 1992-93 2.395 
			 1993-94 2.635 
			 1994-95 2.709 
			 1995-96 2.937 
			 1996-97 3,254 
			 1997-98 3.643 
			 1998-99 3.378 
			 1999-00 3.577 
			 2000-01 3.716 
			 2001-02 3.957 
			 2002-03 4.205 
			 2003-04 4.428 
			 2004-05 4.747 
			 2005-06 5.099

Pensions

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent estimate he has made of the  (a) rate and  (b) annual cost of employer contributions in each public sector pension scheme for which his Department has responsibility; and if he will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: The current employer contribution rate for the Teachers' Pension scheme (TPS) is 13.5 percent. of salary, and the scheme expects to receive £2.79 billion in contributions from employers during the current financial year. Following the agreement with unions and employers on the reform of the TPS and taking account of the outcome of the 2004 valuation of the TPS, from 1st January 2007 the employer contribution rate will increase to 14.1 percent., and the employee rate will increase from 6 percent. to 6.4 percent. The reform of the TPS also includes a cap of 14 percent. on the employer contribution rate from the 2008 scheme valuation onwards.

School Finance

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which schools in Hendon have received capital funding from his Department since May 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: Capital allocations from the Department are made on a local authority, not a constituency basis, and allocations to individual schools are prioritised by local authorities. Accordingly, the Department maintains central records of allocations to local authorities, on a financial year basis commencing 1 April. Allocations to the London borough of Barnet since 1 April 1997 are set out in the following table.
	
		
			  £ million 
			 1998-9 1.8 
			 1999-0 5.6 
			 2000-1 3.9 
			 2001-2 11.9 
			 2002-3 7.5 
			 2003-4 15.9 
			 2004-5 12.0 
			 2005-6 18.5 
			 2006-7 15.1 
		
	
	The large allocation of £41.5 million in 2006-07 includes an amount of £28.4 million for a one-school pathfinder school.

School Playing Fields

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate his Department has made of the change in the number of playing fields of an area of less than 0.4 hectares in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: holding answer 30 October 2006
	Prior to October 1998, there was no regulation of the sale of school playing fields at local authority controlled schools. If a local authority wanted to sell a school playing field there was nothing to stop it and it could spend the proceeds as it wished. Section 77 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 was introduced in October 1998 to stop the indiscriminate sale of school playing fields. Local authorities and governing bodies of all maintained schools now need the Secretary of State's consent before they can dispose of a playing field or any part of a playing field. Section 77 defines playing field as
	"land in the open air which is provided for the purposes of physical education or recreation".
	All applications to dispose of school playing fields received since 16 July 2001 have been scrutinised by the independent School Playing Fields Advisory Panel, which comprises representatives from the National Playing Fields Association, the Central Council of Physical Recreation, Learning through Landscapes, the National Association of Head Teachers and the Local Government Association. The Panel provides advice on the extent to which applications meet the published criteria.
	There has never been a complete audit of existing school playing field provision, but data on school playing fields was requested from local authorities in 2001 and 2003. Unfortunately, the data was incomplete and of variable quality, and it was not possible to accurately assess the number and area of school playing fields.
	The following table shows the number of applications to sell school playing fields larger than a 2,000m(2) sports pitch that have been approved in each calendar year since 1998. A 'sports pitch' is an area of open grassed land which is equal to, or larger than, the Football Association's recommended area of 2,000m(2) for games played by under-10s, and which has a configuration making it suitable for sports, whether laid out as a sports pitch or not. Of the total of 174 approved applications, 78 were at closed schools. Of the approved 96 applications at operating schools, the proceeds of sale have been used to improve on-site sports facilities at 78 of these schools. In the other 18 cases the sale proceeds have been used to improve educational facilities.
	
		
			   Number 
			 1998(1) 7 
			 1999 42 
			 2000 31 
			 2001 21 
			 2002 24 
			 2003 17 
			 2004 14 
			 2005 9 
			 2006(2) 9 
			 (1) October to December.  (2) To date.

Special Educational Needs

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children educated in the private sector in Somerset have been assessed for special educational needs funding in each of the last five years.

Parmjit Dhanda: Information is collected on the number of children who have been assessed for statements of special educational need (SEN); the number of children for whom a statement of SEN was made for the first time; and the placement of these children. The available information is given in the following table.
	
		
			  Assessment and placement of children with new statement of special educational needs (SEN) Somerset local authority area 
			   2001( 1)  2002  2003  2004  2005 
			   No.  %  No.  %  No.  %  No.  %  No.  % 
			 Total children assessed for SEN 181 — 90 — 75 — 82 — 85 — 
			
			  Of which:   
			 Children assessed under Section 323 of the Education Act 1996 during the calendar year for whom no statement was 13 7.2 15 16.7 7 9.2 9 11.0 6 7.1 
			 Children for whom statements were made for the first time during the calendar year(2) 168 92.8 75 83.3 69 90.8 73 89.0 79 92.9 
			
			  Of the children for whom statements were made for the first time, number of children placed in( 3):   
			 registered in early years education settings — — — — 1 1.4 5 6.8 1 1.3 
			 resourced provision in maintained mainstream schools 17 10.1 17 22.7 14 20.3 11 15.1 12 15.2 
			 SEN units in maintained mainstream schools — — — — — — — — 0 0.0 
			 maintained mainstream schools 103 61.3 29 38.7 25 36.2 24 32.9 29 36.7 
			 maintained special schools 30 17.9 16 21.3 18 26.1 21 28.8 22 27.8 
			 non-maintained special schools, independent special schools and other independent schools 10 6 5 6.7 7 10.1 11 15.1 12 15.2 
			 hospital schools and pupil referral units 2 1.2 1 1..3 0 0.0 1 1.4 3 3.8 
			 Children for whom statements were newly made and educated other than in school or awaiting provision 6 3.6 7 9.3 4 5.8 0 0.0 0 0.0 
			 (1 )In 2002 a change to the SEN Code of Practice was introduced which could have caused some disruption to time series data. In 2001 Somerset consulted its mainstream schools about increasing delegation. New arrangements were subsequently introduced resulting in a decrease in the number of children with statements placed in mainstream schools.(2 )Percentage is given of all new assessments made in the calendar year.(3 )Percentage is given of children for whom statements were made for the first time during the calendar year. Source:SEA/2 Survey

Circus Working Group

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the remit is of the Circus Working Group; and what timetable has been set for its work.

Ben Bradshaw: The remit of the Circus Welfare Working Group is to provide, and consider, evidence relating to the transportation and housing needs of non-domesticated species. Further information, including the timetable set for its work, is available on the Defra website at:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/welfare/bill/circus_wg.htm.

Fly-tipping

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate the Environment Agency has made of the levels of fly-tipping in each year since 2001.

Ben Bradshaw: Flycapture, the national database of fly-tipping incidents, was set up in 2004 by Defra, the Environment Agency and the Local Government Association, to record fly-tipping incidents dealt with by the Environment Agency and local authorities. Data on fly-tipping levels are therefore only available from April 2004 onwards.
	Flycapture data shows that in England, 926,534 incidents were reported in the period April 2004 to March 2005. There were 1,034,518 incidents reported from April 2005 to March 2006.
	The Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 introduced new measures which will help local authorities and the Environment Agency to combat fly-tippings. The 2005 act also introduced increased penalties for the offence.
	Defra and the Welsh Assembly Government have also funded the Environment Agency to develop Flycapture Enforcement, a local authority capacity building training package aimed at improving skills in enforcement and helping to improve efforts in prosecuting fly-tippers.

Performing Animals Working Group

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs who the members are of the Performing Animals Working Group; what the remit is of the Group; what the criteria are for membership of the Group; how many meetings of the Group have taken place; if he will place in the Library the minutes of its meetings; and how often the Group meets.

Ben Bradshaw: The Performing Animals Working Group was a stakeholder group convened to discuss the proposals outlined in Defra's Regulatory Impact Assessment for regulating performing animals. The Group met twice; on 27 October 2005 and 15 December 2005. A summary of these meetings is available on the Defra website at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/welfare/bill/perform_wg.htm.
	Membership of the group included representatives of welfare organisations, including the Royal and Scottish Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Dogs Trust and Born Free Foundation; representatives of the audio-visual industry, including Performing Animal Welfare Standards International (PAWSI), the Production Guild, the Animal Consultants and Trainers Association; and representatives of the circus and zoo industries.
	The group was disbanded after its second meeting, when it was felt that it would be more appropriate for consideration of how self-regulation might work to be taken forward by PAWSI, which was invited to run its own group with industry, welfare organisations and other interested parties. As this group is not a Defra working group it would not be appropriate for my Department to provide details of its membership, meetings and minutes.
	We will assess the progress of the PAWSI group in spring next year and, based on this, will consider the options on how to take the regulation of performing animals forward.

Pet Travel Scheme

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many dogs have been admitted in each year since the inception of the pet travel scheme.

Ben Bradshaw: The information requested is set out in the following table:
	
		
			  Number of dogs entering the UK under the pet travel  scheme (PETS) 
			   Number 
			 2000 12,633 
			 2001 23,158 
			 2002 36,410 
			 2003 48,938 
			 2004 57,418 
			 2005 69,549 
			 2006 (to September) 56,555

Waste Management

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what  (a) funding streams,  (b) special grants and  (c) specific grants the Government has given to local authorities in England to promote (i) recycling, (ii) waste collection and (iii) waste disposal activities in each year since 1997-98.

Ben Bradshaw: The main source of funding for local authorities' waste management services is the Environmental, Protective and Cultural Services (EPCS) block of Government grant, distributed each year. It is for the local authorities to decide what proportion of the block to invest in waste management services, including recycling. Other funding allocated to local authorities in England for waste management since 1997 is shown in the following table:
	
		
			   Funding provided (million) 
			  Scheme  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Waste Minimisation and Recycling Fund 50 90 90 45 — — 
			 Waste Performance and Efficiency Grant — — — 40 105 110 
			 Grant to Relieve Spending Pressures on Waste — — 20 — — — 
			 Household Incentives Pilot Scheme — — — 5 — — 
			 Private Finance Initiative 70 100 125 130 255 280 
			 Local Communication s Fund (WRAP) — — 16.2 — — 
			 Behavioural Change Local Fund (WRAP) — — — — 13

Afghanistan

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the progress in Afghanistan towards each of the 43 benchmarks specified in the London Compact of 1 February 2006.

Kim Howells: The Afghanistan Compact, launched at the London conference on Afghanistan, 31 January—1 February 2006, sets out a clear framework for progress in Afghanistan, measured against 43 benchmarks covering Security, Governance, Rule of Law and Human Rights and Economic and Social Development. Process against these benchmarks is assessed by the Joint Co-ordination and Monitoring Board (JCMB), established under the Compact to oversee the implementation of its political commitments. The third quarterly meeting of the JCMB will take place on 12
	November 2006.
	At this point, progress against the standards defined in the Compact will vary according to the timelines set out for each benchmark. These; run from six months to five years. The first benchmark in the Compact was met when the Appointments Advisory Panel was established by presidential decree in September. As a member of the JCMB the UK is playing a full-part in ensuring the Compact is implemented and carefully monitored.

Burma

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate has she made of the value in sterling of the assets of Burmese regime officials froze in each year since the ban's inception; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: Those on the assets freeze list are unlikely to hold bank accounts in the UK or the EU. The current reported value of assets frozen by UK authorities on the basis of the EU restrictive measures applied to Burma is £3,576.65. The value of assets frozen in previous years were:-
	
		
			   £ 
			 2003 0.40 
			 2004 3,548.43 
			 2005 3,576.65 
		
	
	The freezing of assets of the Burmese regime and its associates is one of a number of such measures intended to exert pressure on the regime to enact democratic reforms. By denying regime figures access to the EU and its financial centres, including Switzerland where the EU's policy directly influenced the Swiss to take similar measures, the EU sends a powerful message that the Burmese Government current policies are unacceptable.
	All EU member states are required to implement the restrictive measures set out in the EU Common Position.

Caucasus

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of  (a) the independence movements of the North and South Caucasus and  (b) the potential for further instability in the region.

Geoff Hoon: The UK recognises the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia to include South Ossetia and Abkhazia. We do not recognise the claims to independence of the separatist movements in these regions. The UK supports the peaceful resolution of the conflicts in these regions and is working to address the recent tension between Georgia and Russia. We co-sponsored UN Security Council Resolution 1716 extending the mandate of the UN Observer Mission in Abkhiazia. The EU issued a statement on 17 October calling on Georgia and Russia to resume dialogue and focus on reaching a peaceful resolution of the conflicts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, with full respect for Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity. I recently visited Georgia and stressed to President Saakashvili and others in the Georgian Government the importance of peaceful negotiation of a settlement with the parties to the conflicts.
	We also support the efforts of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe Minsk Group to find a negotiated settlement of the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over Nagorno Karabakh (NK). We recognise the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan to include NK.
	We also recognise the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Russian Federation to include all of the republics of the North Caucasus, including Chechnya. We do not recognise the claims to independence of the Chechen separatist movement. We urge all sides of the conflict in Chechnya to work towards peace and reconciliation within the framework of the Russian Federation and with full respect for human rights. The UK has been increasingly concerned by the spread of violence and instability across the North Caucasus region. We are troubled particularly by the poor security situation and frequency of incidents in the republics of Ingushetia and Dagestan. Instability across the region is fuelled by widespread poverty, corruption and high unemployment. We believe that the long-term problems of the region can only be solved through socio-economic development and the implementation of security measures which respect human rights.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps she is taking to promote free and fair elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo; which international observers will be present at those elections; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend the Minister for Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs (Mr. McCartney), gave on 9 October 2006,  Official Report, column 424W to the hon. Member for North-East Milton Keynes (Mr. Lancaster) on promoting free and fair elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
	There are an estimated 1,000 registered international observers for the second round of elections in the DRC, attached to approximately 24 different observer missions including teams from the EU, Southern African Development Community and the Carter Centre. The EU Election Observation Mission comprises 250 long and short term observers and the UK observation team will comprise of about 16 British civil servants, together with four hon. Members.

Diplomatic Service

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will list the countries where the UK has  (a) closed and  (b) downgraded its embassy or high commission in each year since 1997.

Geoff Hoon: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 26 October 2005,  Official Report, column 467W by my right hon. Friend the then Foreign Secretary (Mr. Jack Straw) to the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker). The following is a list of British embassy and high commission closures since this answer was given:
	
		
			  Year: 1 April to 31 March 
			   Mission closed 
			 2005-06 Abidjan(1), Port Vila and Nuku'alofa 
			 2006-07 Dili 
			 (1) Operations have been suspended due to the uncertain security situation in the Ivory Coast. 
		
	
	No British embassies or high commissions have been downgraded since 1997 and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has no current plans to downgrade any such missions in the future.
	The FCO continuously reviews the deployment of its resources and aligns them flexibly in line with UK interests to benefit the British taxpayer.

Ethiopia/Somalia

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of  (a) the Ethiopian involvement in Somalia and  (b) whether the conflict in Somalia is likely to spread to Ethiopia.

Kim Howells: I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend the Minister for Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs (Ian McCartney) gave the hon. Member for Romford (Andrew Rosindell) on 23 October 2006,  Official Report, columns 1617-1618W.

Human Rights

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many copies of her Department's Human Rights Annual Report 2006 were produced; at what cost; how many copies were supplied gratis; to whom; at what cost; how much of the cost was attributable to  (a) postage,  (b) time of staff and  (c) the cost of producing copies; how many officials were responsible for researching the information contained in the report; what criteria she uses to (i) include and (ii) exclude information from the report; who implements these criteria; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) produced 3,000 copies of the 2006 Annual Report on Human Rights. 3,000 CD-ROM versions are also being produced.
	The overall budget for the Report was £135,000. Final invoices have yet to be received, but the final cost will be very close to this figure.
	500 copies of the report have been given to The Stationery Office. 30 copies of the report have so far been distributed free of charge to hon. Members and noble Peers, including the Foreign Affairs Committee (FAC). Copies have been laid in the Libraries of both Houses, and sent to foreign embassies in London (175), human rights-related non-governmental organisations (203) and educational institutions (65). Copies have also been distributed to various Departments in the FCO (approximately 200 to date) and to all FCO overseas posts (approximately 450 to date), who pass them on to host Governments. Approximately 200 copies were distributed at the report's launch.
	The overall cost of postage is not yet available. A contracted, temporary member of staff arranged distribution of the initial batch of copies to the recipients listed above. The portion of his fee attributed to this (included in the overall budget figure, mentioned above) was £590.
	Requests for extra copies were still being received from posts, Departments and other contacts. Experience shows that posts and Departments request further copies for specific events throughout the year. The final number of gratis copies issued will not be known for some time.
	Officials in FCO Departments responsible for each country and subject area contributed the information in the report, in addition to the editorial team in the FCO's Human Rights, Democracy and Governance Group (HRDGG), which is responsible for publication. It would incur disproportionate cost to assess the total number of staff who contributed.
	There is no specific criteria for excluding information from the report, except that which falls outside the time scale it is intended to cover. The basic shape of the annual report has been in place for five years and is now well established. Contributors take on board recommendations from the FAC when compiling the report.
	My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary agreed the outline ;and general content of the report at the beginning of the process, some six months prior to the intended launch date. HRDGG co-ordinated the publication of the report and, as such, has editorial control of the process. Contributors determine the exact content. These contributors are the FCO policy leads for each country or topic, with input from posts. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary approved the final version of the report.

Iran

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when she last met the Iranian ambassador to the UK to discuss Iran's nuclear programme.

Kim Howells: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has yet to meet the; Iranian ambassador. She discussed Iran's nuclear programme with the Iranian Foreign Minister when they met in New York on 19 September.
	I met the Iranian ambassador on 12 September to discuss Iran's nuclear programme and other areas of concern. Since taking up his post in July 2006, the Iranian ambassador has also discussed the nuclear issue with senior Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials on a number of occasions.

North Korea

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations she has made to each participant in the Six Party Talks on North Korea's recent nuclear test.

Geoff Hoon: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary spoke to Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing on 9 October and again on 13 October. She spoke to US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and to Japanese Foreign Minister Aso on 9 October, and to South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki Moon on 10 October.
	During these discussions, all parties agreed that the test carried out by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) was a clear example of a threat to international peace and security, that it necessitated a robust response from the UN Security Council and that the Six Party Talks are the way forward.
	My right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs (Mr. McCartney), also called the DPRK ambassador in London to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 10 October to make clear our views.

Nuclear Non-proliferation

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations she has made to the Secretary-General of the United Nations regarding  (a) reform of the nuclear non-proliferation regime,  (b) closer working with other multilateral organisations,  (c) the United Kingdom's direct contribution to the United Nations and indirect contribution to funds and programmes,  (d) individual member countries' willingness to contribute to UN peacekeeping operations,  (e) the effectiveness of the International Criminal Court and  (f) reform of the Security Council and General Assembly procedures.

Kim Howells: There have been no recent discussions on the issues the hon. member raises. At their last meeting in September, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed with the Secretary-General of the UN the situations in Darfur, the Middle East, Lebanon, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Kosovo.
	The UK continues to support measures to strengthen the nuclear non-proliferation regime and the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) which serves as its cornerstone. The UK looks forward to positive progress during the next NPT review cycle, which begins with the first Preparatory Commission in May 2007.
	At the Security Council debate on 20 September on co-operation between the UN and regional organisations, I emphasised that the UN and other multilateral organisations should build stronger relationships, particularly on conflict resolution and prevention, terrorism, weapons proliferation, poverty, climate change and human rights.
	The UK is committed to paying the UK's assessed contribution to the UN Regular Budget in full and on time in line with our obligations under the UN Charter. We maintain a rigorous approach in UN Budget negotiations seeking efficiencies and savings, while also ensuring the UN has the resources it needs to carry out the tasks we and other member states ask of it.
	The UK regularly lobbies troop contributing countries and potential troop contributing countries to participate in UN missions.
	The UK is a strong supporter of the International Criminal Court and welcomes the transfer to The Hague of Thomas Lubanga, the first person to face trial by the court.The establishment and consolidation of the court is an important development in international justice and the fight against impunity for those who perpetrate genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.
	The UK continues to support expansion of the UN Security Council, to make it more representative of today's world. At his foreign policy speech in Georgetown, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister called for renewed momentum to the debate. The UK also supports a more effective General Assembly and welcomes measures adopted by UN member states, most recently in September, to streamline its work.

Thailand

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment she has made of democracy in Thailand; what assessment she has made of the effect of the political situation in Thailand on human, political and civil rights in that country; what discussions she has held on the restoration of democracy in Thailand; what representations she has made on the return to democracy in that country; and if she will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: I refer the hon. Member to the reply my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Kim Howells) gave to the hon. Member for The Wrekin (Mark Pritchard) on 9 October 2006,  Official Report, columns 457-458W, and the reply given to the hon. Member by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs (Ian McCartney) on 19 October 2006,  Official Report, column 1398W.
	Through our embassy in Bangkok and in conjunction with our international partners, we have made clear to the interim Thai administration that we regret the coup, that we call for an early lifting of martial law and other restrictions on political and individual liberty, and that we encourage the swift re-establishment of democracy.
	With our EU and other partners, we shall continue to monitor closely the political situation in Thailand and its effect on human, political and civil rights, as well as the rule of law.

Audiologists

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps her Department is taking to ensure an adequate supply of qualified audiologists.

Ivan Lewis: A range of workforce supply initiatives are in place to ensure the national health service workforce continues to meet service needs. These include: improving pay and conditions; encouraging the NHS to become a better, more flexible and diverse employer; increasing training; investing in childcare and continuing professional development; attracting; back returners and running national and international recruitment campaigns.
	A BSc course in audiology was introduced in 2003-04.
	The first cohort of BSc audiology students entered training in 2003-04 and is expected to graduate in 2006
	The Department's commercial directorate is currently scoping a procurement of audiology services from the independent sector, as part of the independent sector treatment centre programme, which will add significant capacity and resource to audiology services in order to help tackle waiting lists. The procurement will be advertised during November, with service commencement during the latter half of 2007.

Cancer Treatment

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time for cancer treatment in the London borough of Bexley was in  (a) 1997 and  (b) 2001.

Rosie Winterton: The information for 1997 is not held centrally by the Department.
	The first published data on the 31-day target for referral to treatment for rare cancers and for the 31-day target for diagnosis to treatment for breast cancer was 2001-02 quarter four as shown on the following table. Data have been used from Bromley Hospital National Health Service Trust, Queen Elizabeth Hospital NHS Trust and Queen Mary's Sidcup NHS Trust. Queen Mary's Sidcup did not have any rare cancer referrals in 2001-02 quarter four.
	
		
			  Number of patients treated for children's cancer, testicular cancer and acute leukaemia, and proportion of patients starting treatment within 31 days of GP referral, in Bexley region 2001-02—quarter 4 
			   Total number of patients treated during the quarter  Percentage of patients treated within 31 days of referral 
			 Bexley region(1) 3 100 
			 England 342 95.6 
			 (1) Figures are for Bromley Hospital NHS Trust and Queen Elizabeth Hospital NHS Trust.   Source:  CWT-Db, Department of Health 
		
	
	
		
			  Number of patients treated for breast cancer, and proportion of patients starting treatment within 31 days of diagnosis, in Bexley region 2001-02—quarter 4 
			   Total number of patients treated during the quarter  Percentage of patients treated within 31 days of referral 
			 Bexley region(1) 103 99.0 
			 England 6,315 94.2 
			 (1) Figures are for Bromley Hospital NHS Trust, Queen Elizabeth Hospital NHS Trust and Queen Mary's Sidcup NHS Trust.   Note:  The NHS Cancer Plan sets out new goals to reduce waiting times for diagnosis and treatment. The ultimate goal is that no one should wait longer that one month from an urgent referral for suspected cancer to the beginning of treatment except for a good clinical reason or through patient choice, it is hoped to achieve this by 2008. For some uncommon cancers like acute leukaemia, children's and testicular cancer, this is what most patients already experience. For those patients that are routinely referred but subsequently diagnosed with cancer there will be a maximum one month wait from diagnosis to treatment by the end of 2005. There will also be a maximum two month wait from urgent GP referral to treatment for all cancers by 2005. There is a series of staged milestones towards this goal: Maximum one month wait from urgent GP referral to treatment guaranteed for children's and testicular cancers and acute leukaemia by 2001. Maximum one month wait from diagnosis to treatment for breast cancer by 2001. Maximum two month wait from urgent GP referral to treatment for breast cancer by 2002. Maximum one month wait from diagnosis to treatment for all cancers from 2005. Maximum two month wait from urgent GP referral to treatment for all cancers from 2005.   Source:  CWT-Db, Department of Health

Consultation Costs

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent estimate she has made of the average cost of a consultation at a  (a) general practitioner surgery,  (b) minor injuries unit,  (c) walk-in centre and  (d) accident and emergency department.

Andy Burnham: The Department does not collect the costs and volumes of general practitioner (GP) activity levels.
	The following table shows data for national average reported costs for attendances at:
	minor injuries unit (MIU);
	walk in centres, first and follow up; and
	accident and emergency (A and E) department.
	
		
			  Reference costs code  A and E services  National average unit cost (£) 
			 V100MI Discrete MIU (3) 37 
			 V100WIFA Walk in centres (first attendance only) 27 
			 V01-V08 24-hour A and E department (4) 87 
			 V100MC Non-24-hour A and E department/casualty department 32 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are for 2004-05, as reported by NHS providers in the 2004-05 reference cost collection. 2 Reference costs data for these services are reported on a full absorption costing basis per attendance and so include both direct costs, e.g. staff costs, and indirect costs, e.g. overheads.  3. Data for MIU are for discrete units only. Where a MIU forms part of the 24-hour A and E department, the costs and activity are reported as part of the 24-hour A and E department.  4. Data for 24-hour A and E department is the weighted average unit cost for all 24-hour A and E department activity. This includes the cost of patients who are dead on arrival.

Health Statistics (Thurrock)

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which wards in the Borough of Thurrock have single GP practices.

Caroline Flint: Information is not available in the format requested. However, the table shows the location of Single Handed GPs in Thurrock as at 30 September 2005 which is the latest data available.
	
		
			  Single handed GP Partnerships for Thurrock Primary Care Trust, as at 30 September 2005 
			  PCT  Practice Code  AddressPost Code 
			 5GQ Thurrock PCT 
			  F81088 271A Southend Road Stanford-le-Hope Essex SS17 
			  8HD 
			  RM18 
			  F81110 Tilbury Health Centre London Road Tilbury, Essex 8EB 
			  F81197 Sancta Maria Medical Centre Daiglen Drive South Ockendon RM15 
			  5SZ 
			  F81198 The Surgery High Road Horndon-on-the-Hill SS17 
			  8LB 
			  RM18 
			  F81206 4 St. Chads Road Tilbury Essex 8LA 
			  RM17 
			  F81623 The Surgery 167 Bridge Road Grays, Essex 6DB 
			  RM15 
			  F81632 The Health Centre Darenth Lane South Ockendon 5LP 
			  RM17 
			  F81643 Grays Health Centre Brooke Road Grays 5BY 
			  SS17 
			  F81644 Ash Tree Surgery 33 Fobbing Road Corringham 9BG 
			  RM18 
			  F81652 Medic House Ottawa Road Tilbury 7RJ 
			  RM17 
			  F81659 Grays Health Centre Brooke Road Grays, Essex 5BY 
			  RM15 
			  F81669 2 Fortin Path South Ockendon Essex 5NL 
			  RM18 
			  F81691 East Tilbury Health Centre 85 Coronation Avenue East Tilbury 8SW 
			  RM18 
			  F81708 105 Calcutta Road Tilbury Essex 7QA 
			  RM18 
			  F81719 57 Calcutta Road Tilbury Essex 7QZ 
			  RM18 
			  F81734 4 Commonwealth House Montreal Road Tilbury, Essex 7QX 
			  RM15 
			  Y00087 South Ockendon Health Centre Darenth Lane South Ockendon 5LP 
			  Source: The information centre for health and social care general and personal medical services statistics

Health Statistics (Thurrock)

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many GPs there were per thousand population in Thurrock in each of the last 10 years.

Rosie Winterton: The following table shows the general medical practitioners, excluding retainers and registrars per 1,000 head of population, for Thurrock Primary Care Trust, as at 30 September 2001-05. Information is not available prior to 2001.
	
		
			  Number (headcount) 
			2001  2002  2003  2004  2005 
			 5GQ Thurrock PCT  
			
			  All practitioners (excluding retainers and registrars) 62 62 67 64 72 
			  Population 143,297 144,501 145,274 145,689 145,689 
			  All practitioners (excluding retainers and registrars) per 1,000 head of population 0.43 0.43 0.46 0.44 0.49 
			  Notes:General medical practitioners excluding retainers and registrars, per 1,000 head of population, for Thurrock Primary Care Trust, as at 30 September 2001-05 General Medical Practitioners excluding retainers and registrars includes, contracted GPs, CMS others and PMS others. Prior to September 2004 this group included CMS unrestricted principals, PMS contracted GPs. Mid-year ONS 2005 population figures for PCTs are not yet available, therefore 2004 PCT figures have been used for 2005 organisation calculations, as a result these figures are subject to change. Source:The Information Centre for health and social care General and Personal Medical Services Statistics, 2001 ONS Population Census

Health Statistics (Thurrock)

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the  (a) age profile and  (b) anticipated retirement pattern of GPs in Thurrock is in (i) single doctor practices and (ii) group practices; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The following table shows all practitioners, excluding retainers and registrars in Thurrock PCT, as at 30 September 2005 which is the latest data available.
	
		
			  Number (headcount) 
			   All practitioners (excluding retainers and registrars)  30-34  35-39  40-44  45-49  50-54  55-59  60-64  65-69 
			 All practitioners (excluding retainers and registrars) 72 4 7 5 17 9 15 9 6 
			   
			  Of which:  
			   
			 Working in single handed partnerships 17- (1)— (1)— (1)— 2 1 2 7 5 
			 Working in group partnerships 45 3 4 4 12 8 12 1 1 
			 PCT Employed 10 1 3 1 3 (1)— 1 1 (1)— 
			 (1) Denotes zero Note:  General medical practitioners excluding retainers and registrars, includes contracted general practitioners, GMS Others and PMS Others.  Source:  The information centre for health and social care general and personal medical services Statistics

NHS Expenditure

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on the NHS in each of the last 30 years in real terms.

Andy Burnham: The following table shows total expenditure on the national health service from 1975-76 to 2005-06 in real terms.
	
		
			  NHS total expenditure, England, 1975-76 to 2005-06 
			£ billion 
			Net NHS expenditure( 1)  Net NHS expenditure real terms( 2) 
			  Cash( 3)
			 1975-76 Outturn 4.413 24.206 
			 1976-77 Outturn 5.032 24.320 
			 1977-78 Outturn 5.555 23.623 
			 1978-79 Outturn 6.273 24.021 
			 1979-80 Outturn 7.447 24.404 
			 1980-81 Outturn 9.700 26.891 
			 1981-82 Outturn 10.854 27.468 
			 1982-83 Outturn 11.819 27.934 
			 1983-84 Outturn 12.494 28.218 
			 1984-85 Outturn 13.407 28.769 
			 1985-86 Outturn 14.176 28.843 
			 1986-87 Outturn 15.173 29.903 
			 1987-88 Outturn 16.668 31.104 
			 1988-89 Outturn 18.420 32.133 
			 1989-90 Outturn 19.855 32.324 
			 1990-91 Outturn 22.326 33.702 
			 1991-92 Outturn 25.353 36.067 
			 1992-93 Outturn 27.968 38.545 
			 1993-94 Outturn 28.942 38.873 
			 1994-95 Outturn 30.590 40.475 
			 1995-96 Outturn 31.985 41.073 
			 1996-97 Outturn 32.997 40.992 
			 1997-98 Outturn 34.664 41.846 
			 1998-99 Outturn 36.608 43.098 
			 1999-2000 Outturn 39.881 46.020 
			 
			  Resource budgeting (RB) stage 1( 4)
			 1999-2000 Outturn 40.201 46.389 
			 2000-01 Outturn 43.932 49.991 
			 2001-02 Outturn 49.021 54.489 
			 2002-03 Outturn 54.042 58.267 
			 
			  RB stage 2( 5, 6, 7)
			 2003-04 Outturn 64.183 67.203 
			 2004-05(8) Outturn 69.306 70.621 
			 2005-06 Estimated outturn 77.847 77.847 
			 (1) Figures are not consistent over the period (1975-76 to 2005-06), therefore it is not appropriate to make comparisons across different periods. (2) Gross domestic product deflator as at 27 September 2006. (3) Expenditure pre 1999-2000 is on a cash basis. (4) Expenditure figures from 1999-2000 to 2002-03 are on a stage 1 resource budgeting basis. (5) Expenditure figures from 2003-04 to 2005-06 are on a stage 2 resource budgeting basis. (6) The resource budgeting stage 2 expenditure figures shown for 2004-05 to 2005-06 are consistent with table 3.4 of the 2006 Departmental Report. (7) Figures from 2003-04 include a technical adjustment for trust depreciation. (8) Includes a technical adjustment in 2004-05 for provisions of £1,497 million.  Note: Total Expenditure includes capital and revenue expenditure.

Northamptonshire Heartlands Primary Care Trust

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was allocated to Northamptonshire Heartlands Primary Care Trust under the capitation formula in each of the last 10 years; how much was made available to the Trust in each year; and what the equivalent figures are estimated to be for 2006-07.

Andy Burnham: The information requested is not available in the format required. Revenue allocations were first made to primary care trusts (PCTs) in 2003-04. Prior to this, allocations were made directly to health authorities on an annual basis. It is therefore not possible to show allocations at PCT level before 2003-04.
	Table 1 shows the 2003-06 revenue allocations made to Northamptonshire Heartlands PCT. Table 2 shows the 2006-08 allocations.
	
		
			  Table 1: 2003-04 to 2005-06 PCT revenue allocations—Northamptonshire Heartlands PCT 
			 2003-04 (£000) 222,223 
			 2004-05 (£000) 244,043 
			 2005-06 (£000) 267,341 
			 Three year increase (£000) 63,605 
			 Three year increase (Percentage) 31.2 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: 2006-07 to 2007-08 PCT revenue allocations—Northamptonshire Heartlands PCT 
			 2006-07 (£000) 336,254 
			 2007-08 (£000) 377,137 
			 Two year increase (£000) 85,615 
			 Two year increase (Percentage) 29.4 
		
	
	The amount made available through parliamentary funding, which represents the cash received for the year from the parliamentary vote, to Northamptonshire Heartlands PCT each year from 2002-03 to 2004-05, which is the latest year currently available, are as follows:
	
		
			  Parliamentary funding amount 
			  £ 
			 2002-03 231,894 
			 2003-04 246,218 
			 2004-05 274,187 
			  Note:These figures are from the audited summarisation schedules.

Worthing Hospital

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children were admitted to Worthing hospital paediatric department in each of the last three years.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested is only held at Trust level. The following table shows the count of finished admission episodes of paediatric cases for Worthing and Southlands Hospitals National Health Service Trust for 2002-03, 2003-04 and 2004-05
	
		
			   Finished admission episodes 
			 2002-03 4,369 
			 2003-04 4,717 
			 2004-05 5,029 
			  Notes:  Finished admission episodes A finished admission episode is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. Please note that admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year. Specialty Care is needed when analysing hospital episode statistics (HES) data by specialty, or by groups of specialties, such as acute. Trusts have different ways of managing specialties and attributing codes so it is better to analyse by specific diagnoses, operations or other recorded information. Ungrossed data Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data, i.e. the data are ungrossed. Data quality HES are compiled from data sent by over 300 NHS trusts and primary care trusts in England. The Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data via HES processes. Whilst this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain.   Source: HES, The Information Centre for health and social care.

Asylum/Immigration

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will provide a substantive answer to question 88572 tabled by the right hon. Member for Birkenhead on 20 July 2006, on immigrants from EU accession countries.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 11 September 2006
	I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 17 October 2006,  Official Report, column 1156W.

Drug Misuse

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his Department has spent on tackling drug misuse in each of the last 10 years.

Vernon Coaker: Home Office direct investment in reducing the harm caused by illegal drugs is identified in the Departmental Report. Figures for each year since 2001 are set out in the following table.
	These figures do not take account of complementary mainstream funding made available by the Home Office which local partnerships draw upon to support delivery of the drug strategy. They form only one element of total Government direct investment in reducing the harm caused by illegal drugs, which in 2006-07 is over £1.5 billion.
	Changes in the classification of funding in Spending Review 2000 mean that comparison with previous years in not possible.
	
		
			  Home Office Departmental Report 2006: Total public spending for the Home Office on the strategic objective that fewer people's lives are ruined by drugs and alcohol: 
			  Outturn (£000) 
			   Resource  Capital 
			 2000-01 0 0 
			 2001-02 1,825 0 
			 2002-03 80,169 0 
			 2003-04 96,351 0 
			 2004-05 206,904 2,174 
			 2005-06(1) 184,606 1,300 
			 2006-07(2) 209,851 3,300 
			 (1) Estimated outturn.(2) Plan. Note:Changes in the treatment of budgets within the supplementary estimates between the 2004-05 and the 2005-06 suggest a decrease in resource expenditure recorded in the departmental report. these disguise a year on year increase of £25,086K expenditure on the drug Interventions Programme.

Immigration and Nationality Directorate

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 18 October 2006,  Official Report, column 1301W, on the Immigration and Nationality Directorate, what considerations are taken into account in determining whether to grant compensation to applicants for the loss of their documents.

Liam Byrne: The Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) assesses compensation claims in accordance with guidance contained in the Government Accounting Manual issued by Her Majesty's Treasury, which ensures the proper handling of public money.
	When determining whether to grant compensation for the loss of documents the Immigration IND will consider reimbursing the fee for the replacement of a document and any associated costs. Associated costs include the cost of travel or postage to obtain the new document, telephone calls made to inquire about or apply for a new document, subsistence costs on journeys made to enquire about/collect documents, signed affidavits, loss of earnings and passport photographs. Evidence, usually in the form of receipts, is required to support the claim. The IND may exercise discretion in the event that receipts are unavailable. The IND will also consider offering an ex gratia consolatory payment for non-financial loss if this is caused as a direct result of IND maladministration.

Motoring Offences

Linda Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were prosecuted for using their mobile phones while driving in 2005-06.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Available information taken from the Court Proceedings database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform for the year 2004 (latest available) is given in the table. As the majority of 'use of hand held mobile phone while driving' offences are dealt with by the issue of a fixed penalty notice these are also included.
	2005 data will be available early in 2007.
	
		
			  Fixed penalty notices issued( 1)  and total court proceedings for the offence of use of hand held mobile phone while driving( 2)  by police force area, England and Wales, 2004 
			  Number of offences 
			  Police force area  Fixed penalty notices issued( 1)  Total court proceedings( 3)  Total dealt with 
			 Avon and Somerset 1,902 19 1,921 
			 Bedfordshire 579 5 584 
			 Cambridgeshire 219 7 226 
			 Cheshire 2,689 2 2,691 
			 Cleveland 1,066 4 1,070 
			 Cumbria 528 24 552 
			 Derbyshire 978 17 995 
			 Devon and Cornwall 796 19 815 
			 Dorset 521 0 521 
			 Durham 504 1 505 
			 Essex 2,431 28 2,459 
			 Gloucestershire 632 1 633 
			 Greater Manchester 8,166 73 8,239 
			 Hampshire 2,032 18 2,050 
			 Hertfordshire 2,526 6 2,532 
			 Humberside 381 4 385 
			 Kent 1,707 0 1,707 
			 Lancashire 1,719 17 1,736 
			 Leicestershire 759 12 771 
			 Lincolnshire 1,529 9 1,538 
			 London, City of 137 7 144 
			 Merseyside 1,836 22 1,858 
			 Metropolitan Police 13,581 203 13,784 
			 Norfolk 887 20 907 
			 Northamptonshire 297 0 297 
			 Northumbria 1,271 32 1,303 
			 North Yorkshire 720 18 738 
			 Nottinghamshire 653 8 661 
			 South Yorkshire 1,978 12 1,990 
			 Staffordshire 264 11 275 
			 Suffolk 978 7 985 
			 Surrey 2,213 9 2,222 
			 Sussex 546 1 547 
			 Thames Valley 3,716 24 3,740 
			 Warwickshire 621 7 628 
			 West Mercia 2,200 17 2,217 
			 West Midlands 3,864 61 3,925 
			 West Yorkshire 2,368 11 2,379 
			 Wiltshire 700 21 721 
			 Dyfed Powys 363 13 376 
			 Gwent 517 0 517 
			 North Wales 999 3 1,002 
			 South Wales 1,603 16 1,619 
			 England and Wales 73,976 789 74,765 
			 (1) Paid i.e. no further action.(2) Offences under the Road Vehicles (Construction & Use) Regulations 1986, Regulations 110 (1), 110 (2) and 110 (3).(3) Includes cases where fixed penalty notices were originally issued but not paid and subsequently referred to court. Note:Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when these data are used.

Police

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the  (a) legislation and  (b) statutory instruments which regulate police discipline; what changes have been made to each since their enactment; what further amendments are planned; and if he will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: The information is as follows:
	 Primary legislation
	(a) Police Act 1996 (1996 c.16) as amended by the Police and Criminal Justice Act 2001 and the Greater London Authority Act 1999
	(b) Police Reform Act 2002 (2002 c.30) as amended by the Serious and Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (main amendments relate to the introduction of the Serious Organised Crime Agency and the introduction of a new category of matter to be referred to the IPCC (alongside complaints and conduct matters) namely a death or serious injury matter. NB The amendments to secondary legislation are also largely consequential on these provisions.)
	 Secondary legislation
	(a) Police (Conduct) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/645) as amended by the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (Consequential and Supplementary Amendments to Secondary Legislation) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/594)
	(b) Police (Complaints and Misconduct) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/643) as amended by the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (Powers of Arrest) (Consequential Amendments) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/3389), the Police (Complaints and Misconduct) Regulations (Amendment) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/1406) and S.I. 2006/594 (see
	aforementioned for title)
	(c) Police Appeals Tribunal Rules 1999 (S.I. 1999/818) as amended by S.I. 2006/594 (see aforementioned for title)
	(d) Independent Police Complaints Commission (Transitional Provisions) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/671)
	Work is currently in progress to reform the police disciplinary system. Any changes made will be regulated by legislation.

Scrutiny Unit

David Amess: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission how many people were employed by the Scrutiny Unit, in each year since its inception broken down by  (a) age,  (b) sex and  (c) grade; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Harvey: The Scrutiny Unit was set up in the autumn of 2002 and did not reach full strength till late 2003. The unit comprises a mixture of permanent staff and people recruited from outside, either on secondment or on short-term contracts. Information on staffing is set out in the following tables. Information about age is summarised in broad age bands to protect the privacy of the individuals.
	
		
			  Individual staff by sex and pay band 
			   Male  Female  Total 
			  October 2006
			 SCS Band 1 1 0 1 
			 Band A 3 4 7 
			 Band B 0 4 4 
			 Band C 1 3 4 
			 Band D 1 0 1 
			 Total 6 11 17 
			 
			  November 2005
			 SCS Band 1 1 0 1 
			 Band A 1 7 8 
			 Band B 0 2 2 
			 Band C 0 1 1 
			 Band D 1 0 1 
			 Total 3 10 13 
			 
			  November 2004
			 SCS Band 1 1 0 1 
			 Band A 2 1 3 
			 Band B 4 6 10 
			 Band C 0 2 2 
			 Band D 1 0 1 
			 Total 8 9 17 
			 
			  November 2003
			 SCS Band 1 1 1 2 
			 Band A 2 1 3 
			 Band B 2 3 5 
			 Band C 0 3 3 
			 Band D 1 0 1 
			 Total 6 8 14 
		
	
	
		
			  Age Ranges 
			   October 2006  November 2005  November 2004  November 2003 
			 20-29 4 3 6 5 
			 30-39 9 5 6 5 
			 40-49 2 3 3 3 
			 50-59 0 1 2 1 
			 60-65 1 0 0 0 
			 Unknown 1 1 0 0 
			 Total 17 13 17 14

Scrutiny Unit

David Amess: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission if he will list the  (a) projects undertaken and  (b) reports issued by the Scrutiny Unit in each Session since the Unit's inception; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Harvey: Major projects undertaken by the Scrutiny Unit in each session from 2002-03 to date (except where a particular session is indicated) have included:
	Staffing of joint committees on draft bills (draft Civil Contingencies, Corruption and Mental Incapacity Bills 2002-03; draft Charities, Disability Discrimination, Gambling and Mental Health Bills 2003-04; draft Children (Contact) and Adoption Bill 2004-05; draft Legal Services Bill 2005-06).
	Assisting select committees and the Joint Committee on Human Rights with the scrutiny of draft bills and associated Regulatory Impact Assessments (draft Electricity (Trading and Transmission), Gender Recognition and Housing Bills 2002-03; draft Animal Welfare, Criminal Defence Service, Regional Assemblies and School Transport Bills 2003-04; draft Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill 2004-05; draft Corporate Manslaughter and Coroners Bills 2005-06).
	Assisting all departmental select committees with scrutiny of Departmental Reports, Estimates and Supplementary Estimates and resource accounts, and advising on best practice on content of Departmental Reports and Estimates Memoranda.
	Assisting select committees and the Joint Committee on Human Rights with committee inquiries (the work ranging from contributions to briefing to the carrying out of whole inquiries).
	Supporting the Parliamentary Observer on the Financial Reporting Advisory Board (FRAB).
	Conducting an inquiry into the financial and performance management of the Electoral Commission for the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission (session 2005-06).
	Provision of training to Members, their staff and staff of both Houses on topics such as Estimates, Resource Accounts, Departmental Reports and Handling Statistics.
	Scrutiny of draft bills sometimes continues from one session to another; the
	sessions given here are when scrutiny began.
	The work undertaken by the Scrutiny Unit from its inception in November 2002 to the end of 2004 is described in appendices to the Liaison Committee's annual reports:
	First Report, 2003-04, HC 446, Appendix 3
	(http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200304/cmselect/cmliaisn/446/44613.htm);
	First Report, 2004-05, HC 419, Appendix 4
	(http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200405/cmselect/cmliaisn/419/41914.htm
	I am placing in the Library a full list of tasks carried out from the unit's inception to date.
	The unit does not issue reports. However, a paper by the unit reviewing departmental reports for 2005 was reported to the House by the Liaison Committee on 12 May 2006 and is on the Liaison Committee's website:
	http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmselect/cmliaisn/review/revo2.htm.
	Further information can be found on the Scrutiny Unit's own website:
	http://www. parliament.uk/about_commons/scrutinyunit.cfm.

Afghanistan

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made by provincial reconstruction teams in Afghanistan in building  (a) police stations,  (b) roads,  (c) bridges and  (d) women's centres.

Hilary Benn: The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) estimate that the total amount of funding committed by Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) in Afghanistan, is $80,190,000 since 2004. They estimate that 61 per cent. of this expenditure has been spent, with the remaining planned, ongoing or identified. ISAF collect this information from reports from the 24 PRTs across the country, and warn that this data may not be completely accurate.
	The PRTs report to ISAF based on the pillars of the Afghanistan National Development Strategy: Agriculture, Education, Good Governance, Health, Infrastructure and Natural Resources, Private Sector Development, Security, and Social Protection. ISAF are able to provide financial expenditure data by pillar but not able to provide information on specific areas. For example (i) the expenditure since 2004 on Infrastructure and Natural Resources is estimated as a total of US $31,332,000 which will include roads and bridges; (ii) expenditure on Security, which will include building and refurbishments of police stations is estimated to be US $4,443,000; (iii) expenditure on social protection, which will include Women's Centres, is estimated to be US $7,059,000.
	Further detailed information on PRT progress in these areas is not available at this time.

Afghanistan

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the total value of funds expended by provincial reconstruction teams in Afghanistan on development and reconstruction projects was in each quarter since 2004.

Hilary Benn: The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) estimates that the total amount of funding committed by Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) in Afghanistan is $80,190,000 since 2004. They estimate that 61 per cent. of this funding has been spent, with the remaining planned, ongoing or identified. ISAF collect this information from reports from the 24 PRTs across the country, and warn that this data may not be completely accurate.
	ISAF are not currently able to break down this expenditure by quarter.

Afghanistan

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what percentage of the money collected in toll payments for the use of the Kabul to Kandahar highway will go to  (a) road maintenance,  (b) the USA and  (c) other donor states.

Hilary Benn: The money raised from the road toll scheme is not earmarked for any specific purposes but rather contributes to the Government of Afghanistan's core budget spending. In last years' budget, spending on development was 63 per cent. of total expenditures with security and governance at 30 per cent. and 7 per cent. respectively. Within development spending the largest areas of expenditure were agriculture and rural development at 21 per cent. and infrastructure and natural resources at 14 per cent.
	None of the money raised will go directly to the USA or other donor states. However, the scheme does rely on the use of stickers which are purchased from a German firm. Two years supply of anti-counterfeit stickers cost $450,000, around 2.5 per cent. of the scheme's expected returns over the same period. The German firm won the contract after a tendering process consistent with the Government of Afghanistan Procurement Law.

Afghanistan

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what work his Department has carried out in Helmand Province since British troops were deployed there; and what the outcomes from this work have been.

Hilary Benn: In Helmand, DFID is funding £30 million Helmand Agriculture and Rural Development Programme. This programme aims to increase economic opportunities for the rural poor of Helmand by supporting the Government of Afghanistan in the implementation of existing successful National Programmes in Helmand. Preliminary tasks have been undertaken: i.e. sites for road and well building have been identified; engineering surveys conducted; and the Government procurement process started. This programme will construct 200 wells in and around Lashkar Gah city by end March 2007, and 49 km of road will be under construction by then. Should the security situation allow, we also expect to build a further 490 wells in four districts in central Helmand by end March 2007. In the longer term, these programmes will provide improved water and sanitation, essential small-scale rural infrastructure, greater access to small loans, improved roads and access to markets and agricultural inputs and training to the people of Helmand.
	Through the £3 million DFID-funded Research into Alternative Livelihoods Fund (RALF), the Restorative Agriculture and Rural Economy Research Project, implemented by Mercy Corps, in Helmand, is working on the feasibility of exporting grapes, tomatoes, mushrooms, eggplants and okra, and has made strong contacts with raisin importers (organic and fair-trade). The programme is evaluating at least 10 different small-scale agri-processing industries, and producing case studies of enterprises that prove to have value added, for example tomato paste.
	DFID has committed £4 million to the UK Global Conflict Prevention Pool (GCPP) funding allocation of £6.5 million for the delivery of quick impact projects (QIPS) in Helmand to get short-term development results and help build a platform for longer-term activities. From the total allocation, half has been committed and all will be spent by March 2007. To date, nearly 50 such projects have been funded and implemented. These funds have provided humanitarian assistance to victims of the drought, constructed permanent vehicle checkpoints to improve security, improved security around the shrine in Gereshk, reinforced the river bank walls and provided flood defences for the Bowlan bridge. A full list of UK funded QIPs under the four broad sub-headings (Reconstruction and Development, Security, Governance and Counter Narcotics) is as follows as supporting documentation.
	
		
			  Supporting documentation: summary of UK funded quick impact projects in Helmand Province 
			  Project  Value (USD) 
			  Reconstruction and Development  
			 Sayed Tajdar Shrine: Wall and gate construction 21,224 
			 Sayed Tajdar Shrine: Road and footpath construction 3,076 
			 Improvement of Friday Market and Gabion wall 140,623 
			 Improvement of Friday Market (Cha-i-Anjeer) 24,950 
			 Emergency food distribution 3,400 
			 Gabion Extension 34,108 
			 Support to Office of the Governor to respond to needs of Internally Displaced People 60,000 
			 Support to Radio Stations 150,000 
			 Weir on Helmand River 153,147 
			 Silt removal from Helmand River 259,479 
			 Extension of Gabion walls on Helmand River 168,045 
			 Ulema Shura Ramadan Food 6,867 
			 Lashkar Gar Hospital Mortuary 50,000 
			 Bost Hospital Generator 60,000 
			 Womens Centre improvements 30,000 
			 Kartelegan and Toortank day care centres 80,000 
			 Ulema Shura Eid Support 1,900 
			 Womens Centre ISAF badges 750 
			   
			  Security  
			 Permanent Vehicle Checkpoints (PVCPs) 21,387 
			 Afghan National Police Outposts 480,000 
			 Afghan National Army Platoon House 45,000 
			 Afghan National Army Outposts 158,756 
			 4 Permanent Vehicle Checkpoints (PVCPs) 155,000 
			 4 Enhanced Permanent Vehicle Checkpoints (PVCPs) 110,000 
			 12 Permanent Vehicle Checkpoints (PVCPs) for Geresk 600,000 
			 New PSCC 150,000 
			   
			  Governance  
			 Media Training 486,900 
			 Radio Transmitter 122,400 
			 Helmand Governor—Armoured Car 126,684 
			 3,000 uniforms for 1,500 police 30,000 
			 GPS for the chief of police 150 
			 ID card making facility (ANP) 25,000 
			 Generators for the Governor 170,000 
			 Wall for the office of the prosecutor 10,000 
			 Support to the Office of the Governor 35,000 
			 Tribal Liaison Office, District Reports 155,708 
			 Rehabilitate Printing Press 45,000 
			   
			  Counter Narcotics  
			 Windmill Wells 10,640 
			 Vehicles for Counter Narcotics Police Authority 72,080 
			 Counter-narcotics PI campaign 279,939 
			 Communications equipment for the Counter Narcotics Police Afghanistan 10,000 
			 PA Systems for 12 District Centres 3,000 
			 Counter Narcotics Tractor Repairs 12,000 
			 Counter Narcotics Tractor Ploughs 30,000 
			 Total 4,592,213

Afghanistan

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what work has been carried out by non-governmental organisations in Helmand province in 2006; and how many are operating in Helmand province.

Hilary Benn: There is no central database of all work carried out by local and international NGOs in Helmand. We do also not know for certain how many NGOs are operating in Helmand.
	In 2006 DFID has provided support through Quick Impact Project (QIPs) to HAFO (Helping Afghan Farmers Organisation) and WADAN (Welfare and Development of Afghans Network). The following table as supporting documentation outlines the work that HAFO and WADAN have, or are in the process of undertaking in Helmand.
	The £3 million DFID-funded research into Alternative Livelihoods Fund (RALF), the Restorative Agriculture and Rural Economy Research Project, implemented by Mercy Corps., is working in Helmand on the feasibility of exporting grapes, tomatoes, mushrooms, eggplants and okra, and has made strong contacts with raisin importers (organic and fair-trade).
	Through the Government of Afghanistan's National Programmes which we support, the Government provide additional support to NGOs as facilitating partners, including BRAC and Mercy Corps.
	
		
			  UK direct support to NGOs in Helmand province, Reconstruction and Development 
			  Project  Value (USD)  Total spend to date (USD)  Partner organisation 
			 Sayed Tajdar Shrine: wall and gate construction 21,224 21,224 HAFO 
			 Sayed Tajdar Shrine: road and footpath construction 33,076 33,076 HAFO 
			 Improvement of Friday Market and Gabion wall 140,623 140,623 HAFO 
			 Improvement of Friday Market (Cha-i-Anjeer) 24,950 24,950 HAFO 
			 Gabion Extension 34,108 34,108 HAFO 
			 Weir on Helmand River 153,147 50,000 HAFO 
			 Silt removal from Helmand River 259,479 100,000 HAFO 
			 Extension of Gabion walls on Helmand River 168,045 50,000 HAFO 
			 Counter-narcotics PI campaign 279,939 175,000 WADAN

Afghanistan

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the correlation between input of alternative livelihoods funding to the priority provinces identified in the Afghan Government's alternative livelihoods implementation plan and the production of opium in those provinces.

Hilary Benn: The UK has been helping the Government of Afghanistan prepare an alternative livelihoods plan to help deliver the updated National Drug Control Strategy. The plan has seven work areas, focussing on particular provinces with a high level of opium production as well as those with a high level of vulnerability to opium poppy cultivation. The plan has been recently endorsed by the Minister for Counter Narcotics and the Cabinet Sub-Committee.
	There is currently no effective system in place for measuring the impact of alternative livelihood programmes on poppy cultivation in the priority provinces. DFID is helping the Afghan Government address this problem by undertaking a repeat survey in three of the priority provinces, starting in 2007. The results will be known after the first survey is undertaken in March 2007.
	However we do know from the 2006 UNODC opium survey, alternative that livelihoods alone are not enough. Where there is access to governance, security and development, reductions in cultivation achieved last year have been sustained and in some cases fallen.

Afghanistan

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much was paid in cash for development purposes in the Helmand province in 2006; and who the recipients were.

Hilary Benn: DFID has committed £4 million this financial year to the UK Global Conflict Prevention Pool (GCPP) funding allocation of £6.5 million for the delivery of Quick Impact Projects (QIPS) in Helmand. The purpose of QIPs is to get short-term development results and help build a platform for longer-term activities. The total paid out in cash to date is US$ 2,872,068 (£1.6 million) out of US$ 4,946,302 (£2.7 million) committed so far.
	These funds have provided humanitarian assistance to victims of the drought, constructed permanent vehicle checkpoints to improve security, improved security around the shrine in Gereshk, reinforced the river bank walls and provided flood defences for the Bowlan Bridge. A full list of UK funded QIPs under the four broad sub-headings (Reconstruction and Development, Security, Governance, and Counter Narcotics) is attached as supporting documentation, showing recipient organisations.
	
		
			  Development Funds spent in Helmand 
			  Project  Value (USD)  Total spent to date (USD)  Partner organisation 
			  Reconstruction and Development
			 Sayed Tajdar Shrine: Wall and gate construction 21,224 21,224 HAFO 
			 Sayed Tajdar Shrine: Road and footpath construction 33,076 33,076 HAFO 
			 Improvement of Friday Market and Gabion wall 140,623 140,623 HAFO 
			 Improvement of Friday Market (Cha-i-Anjeer) 24,950 24,950 HAFO 
			 Emergency food distribution 3,400 3,400 AFC 
			 Gabion Extension 34,108 34,108 HAFO 
			 Support to Office of the Governor to respond to needs of internally displaced people 60,000 60,000 Office of the Governor 
			 Support to radio stations 150,000 — Local radio station 
			 Weir on Helmand River 153,147 50,000 HAFO 
			 Silt removal from Helmand River 259,479 100,000 HAFO 
			 Extension of Gabion walls on Helmand River 168,045 50,000 HAFO 
			 Ulema Shura Ramadan Food 6,867 — UKPRT 
			 Lashkar Gar hospital mortuary 60,000 20,400 GEG 
			 Bost hospital generator 60,000 47,640 GEG 
			 Women's Centre improvements 30,000 — To be decided 
			 Kartelegan and Toortank day care centres 80,000 — HCC 
			 Ulema Shura Eid Support 1,900 1,900 Office of the Governor 
			 Women's Centre ISAF badges 750 — Women's centre 
			 Protection of Nahrisiraj canal 12,000 12,000 Office of the Governor 
			  Security
			 Permanent vehicle check points (PVCPs) 21,387 21,387 MRO 
			 Afghan national police outposts 480,000 306,193 PCC and ARDA 
			 Afghan national army platoon house 45,000 24,374 MWCC 
			 Afghan national army outposts 158,756 — NACC 
			 4 Permanent vehicle check points (PVCPs) 155,000 — MRO 
			 4 Enhanced permanent vehicle check points (PVCPs) 110,000 — MRO 
			 12 permanent vehicle check points (PVCPs) for Geresk 600,000 600,000 CADJ—built by REs 
			 New PSCC 150,000 150,000 SPKCC 
			 2 PVCPs in Lashkar Gah 16,800 16,800 Office of the Governor 
			 Infrastructure works at USPI compound 5,265 5,265 MWCC 
			 Sustainable lighting equipment for Afghan national police 1,000 — To be decided 
			 Provision of basic engineering tools for Afghan national police 1,000 — To be decided 
			 Provision of security infrastructure for Governors office and Bost Hotel 200,000 — To be decided 
			  Governance
			 Media training 486,900 378,000 Institute for war and peace reporting 
			 Radio transmitter 122,400 122,400 BBCWS 
			 Helmand Governor-armoured Car 126,684 126,684 Conrico Internatinal Ltd 
			 3,000 uniforms for 1,500 police 30,000 10,000 Local tailor 
			 GPS for the chief of police 150 150 KAF 
			 ID card making facility (ANP) 25,000 25,000 Alpha card systems 
			 Generators for the Governor 170,000 170,000 FCO—to be decided 
			 Wall for the office of the prosecutor 10,000 — To be decided 
			 Support to the Office of the Governor 35,000 10,000 Office of the Governor 
			 Support to the Office of the Governor 35,000 10,000 Office of the Governor 
			 Tribal Liaison Office, district reports 155,708 77,854 TLO 
			 Rehabilitate printing press 45,000 — Dept of Information 
			 Set up costs for Musa Qala district administration 10,000 10,000 Office of the Governor 
			 Counter Narcotics
			 Windmill wells 10,640 10,640 MNCC 
			 Vehicles for counter narcotics police authority 72,080 — Afghan motors 
			 Counter-narcotics PI campaign 279,939 175,000 WADAN 
			 Communications equipment for the counter narcotics police Afghanistan 10,000 — To be decided 
			 PA Systems for 12 district centres 3,000 3,000 MCN, MOA and PCD 
			 Counter narcotics tractor repairs 12,000 — MCN, MOA and PDC 
			 Counter narcotics tractor ploughs 30,000 30,000 MCN, MOA and PDC 
			 Counter narcotics tractor operation 68,024 — MCN, MOA and PDC 
			 Total 4,946,302 2,872,068

Aid Expenditure

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of UK aid has been allocated to projects on  (a) women's rights,  (b) education and literacy,  (c) health,  (d) infrastructure and  (e) political reform in each year since 2001.

Gareth Thomas: Expenditure relating to women's rights activities is not available. However table 1 includes expenditure that has a principle and a significant impact on promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women.
	Table 2 details expenditure from the bilateral development assistance programme on projects in education (including literacy) and health. Expenditure on activities relating to political reform is not easily defined and can include areas such as good governance through public financial management, anti-corruption, security sector reform and access to justice, but expenditure on these areas cannot be identified separately. However expenditure on local government reform (including Parliament and decentralisation), electoral assistance and public service reform can be identified and have been included in the figures for political reform.
	Expenditure on infrastructure includes transport and communication, energy, construction, water supply and sanitation and waste control for this category. Infrastructure expenditure also features in private sector development, information and communication, urban management, agricultural production but the infrastructure element cannot be identified separately and are not included in the figures as follows.
	A significant proportion of aid programme funding is channelled through multilateral organisations and much of this cannot be broken down by sector. I have therefore provided details of the bilateral project funding as a proportion of the DFID bilateral programme and of total UK gross expenditure on development in each year.
	
		
			  Table 1: Gender equality 
			   Percentage of DFID Bilateral Programme  Percentage of GPEX 
			 2001-02 17 7 
			 2002-03 20 9 
			 2003-04 23 10 
			 2004-05 30 12 
			 2005-06 32 12 
			  Source: SRSG Database 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2 
			   Education  Health 
			   Percentage of DFID Bilateral Programme  Percentage of GPEX  Percentage of DFID Bilateral Programme  Percentage of GPEX 
			 2001-02 10 4 20 9 
			 2002-03 10 4 20 9 
			 2003-04 12 5 21 9 
			 2004-05 13 5 22 9 
			 2005-06 10 4 22 8 
		
	
	
		
			   Political reform  Infrastructure 
			   Percentage of DFID Bilateral Programme  Percentage of GPEX  Percentage of DFID Bilateral Programme  Percentage of GPEX 
			 2001-02 8 3 6 3 
			 2002-03 5 2 5 2 
			 2003-04 12 5 6 2 
			 2004-05 9 4 4 2 
			 2005-06 10 4 5 2 
			  Source: SRSG Database

Arts Production

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his assessment is of the impact of the pledge made by the Arts Minister in a press release on 3 August 2005 to ensure that arts and creativity are recognised as particularly valuable contributors to the Northern Ireland economy, to education and to the community on  (a) community relations in Northern Ireland,  (b) revenue raised,  (c) job creation and  (d) Northern Ireland's education system.

Maria Eagle: There has been good progress since August 2005 to ensure that the value of arts and culture is recognised in:
	 (a) Community Relations: £3.3 million new funding has been secured for investment in local community projects under the Arts Council's Re-imaging Communities programme.
	 (b) Revenue Raised: in 2003, the Creative Industries in Northern Ireland generated an estimated turnover of £900 million(1). The Strategic Investment Board has an indicative allocation of £20 million for arts infrastructure in the Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland (2005-15) and a further £3 million has been secured from the Integrated Development Fund.
	 (c) Job Creation: In 2003 employment in the Creative Industries in Northern Ireland was estimated to be £33,500(1). This is the most recent regional estimate available.
	 (d) Education System: Preparations are on-going for the roll-out of the new statutory curriculum from September 2007 and this will have the use of critical and creative thinking skills at its core. In addition, DCAL in partnership with DE has funded specific initiatives such as the Creative Youth Partnerships and Creative Learning Centres providing new learning opportunities for children and young people through arts and digital media.
	( 1 ) Source:
	DCAL Research and Statistics Branch

Arts Production

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps have been taken to implement the Arts Minister's pledges made in his press release on 3 August 2005  (a) to encourage the commitment of people involved in arts in Northern Ireland,  (b) to put arts and creativity among his key priorities and  (c) to ensure that arts and creativity are recognised as particularly valuable contributors to the Northern Ireland economy, to education and to the community.

Maria Eagle: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given today to question 97282 and would add that the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure has been active in encouraging commitment in the sector through involvement in a range of initiatives and events including:
	Craft NI—established as the lead organisation for the development of contemporary craft and applied arts sector in Northern Ireland;
	Culture NI—a website publicising the range of art and cultural activities in Northern Ireland;
	Arts and Business—an organisation that helps to build partnerships between businesses and arts organisations and practitioners;
	Shifting Brilliances—a major conference aimed at increasing the level of network television drama production in Northern Ireland held in October 2006;
	Urban Alchemy Conference—focusing on the transforming power of art and architecture held in October 2006;
	Arts and Culture Stakeholders meeting in the North West—to exp lore the potential for using arts and culture as a catalyst for regeneration held in April 2006

Rowanedale Integrated Primary School

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many expressions of interest have been lodged with the Department of Education by parents who wish to send their children to the proposed Rowanedale Integrated Primary School.

Maria Eagle: A development proposal to establish Rowandale Integrated Primary School with effect from 1 September 2007 or the earliest date thereafter was published by the South Eastern Education and Library Board on behalf of the Rowandale Integrated Primary School Steering Group on 19 September 2006. The statutory two-month consultation period ends on 20 November 2006.
	In submitting the development proposal for the establishment of a new grant maintained integrated primary school the Steering Group indicated that at 18 August 2006, they had received 20 expressions of interest for Year 1 at September 2007 with a further 57 children identified for Year 1 for the years 2008 to 2011 inclusive. In addition, the Group has advised that 22 families had expressed interest in transferring their children to the proposed new school from existing primary schools.

Afghanistan

Julian Lewis: To ask the Prime Minister what role UK forces are undertaking in suppressing poppy cultivation in Afghanistan.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the statement made on 10 July 2006,  Official Report, column 1135, by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence (Des Browne).

Departmental Staff

Nick Gibb: To ask the Solicitor-General what proportion of vacancies in the Law Officers' Departments in the last 12 months required candidates to have at least a grade C in  (a) English and  (b) mathematics GCSE.

Mike O'Brien: The Treasury Solicitor's Department and the Attorney-General's Office require candidates, for open competition vacancies, to have a minimum of five GCSEs (or equivalent) at grade C, including English Language. Therefore one 100 per cent. of vacancies require candidates to have at least grade C in English Language GCSE or equivalent. No candidates were specifically required to have at least grade C in mathematics GCSE
	There have been no vacancies in the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in the last 12 months that required candidates to have at least a grade C in English and Mathematics GCSE, as all recruitment is competency based. Candidates for administrative positions will provide evidence of competency in English and Mathematics, where necessary, at interview or through testing.
	RCPO held 20 appointment exercises for 54 vacancies of which 21 have asked for at least Grade C in English during the last year.
	HMCPSI does not quote these qualifications as a requirement but it is an expectation that candidates or prospective employees will have these basic qualifications.

National Minimum Wage

John McDonnell: To ask the Solicitor-General how many employees in the Law Officers' Departments were affected by the rise in the minimum wage on 1 October 2006.

Mike O'Brien: The Law Officer's Departments did not have any staff affected by the rise in the minimum wage on 1 October 2006.

British Geological Survey

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the grant to the British Geological Survey is in 2006-07; and what it is expected to be in each of the next three years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The British Geological Survey (BGS) is a wholly-owned Research Centre of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). BGS receives funding from the Science Budget via NERC, and from external commissioned research from the public and private sectors. The annual Science Budget allocations from NERC to BGS are as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
			   Resource budget  Capital budget  Total budget 
			 2006-07 (1)26.1 2.3 28.4 
			 2007-08 24.9 (2)6.7 31.6 
			 2008-09 25.2 (2)5.1 30.3 
			 2009-10 26.4 1.7 28.1 
			 (1) This figure contains a £1.6 million carry forward from 2005-06. The 2006-07 budgeted figure was actually £24.5 million, in line with the steady increase in the resource budget throughout the four-year period.(2) The larger capital budget figures for 2007-08 and 2008-09 is due to re-building work at the British Geological Survey in Keyworth, with the figure settling back down again in 2009-10.

Departmental Redundancies

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has for  (a) voluntary and  (b) compulsory redundancies in his Department during (i) 2006-07 and (ii) 2007-08 financial years; and how many officials in his Department, have (A) taken voluntary severance and (B) been made, or informed that they will be made, redundant in each month since July 2006 broken down by (1) directorate and (2) grade.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department's strategy is to become a more streamlined, influential, policy-making Department at the centre of the DTI family, with delivery through our agencies and arm's length bodies. In order to do this we are undertaking a number of reviews that, in tandem with significant pressures across all budgets, are likely to lead to some reduction in staff numbers.
	The Department and the trade unions are committed to working together to make every attempt to avoid compulsory redundancies. However, the Department has decided to put the consultation on a statutory footing because the scale of the changes may result in some compulsory redundancies.
	As part of the Department's Efficiency Programme, the DTI has supported over 450 people during the last two years. They have been given help with upskilling and job search and have either been redeployed or have taken advantage of exit schemes. Despite this some 11 individuals remain without posts and were made aware on 2 August 2006 that they will receive notice of redundancy in the near future. During the period of notice they will remain supported by the Department to help secure alternative suitable posts.
	The following number of officials have taken early severance since July 2006:
	
		
			   Number of staff  Range  DTI group 
			  2006
			 July 2 6s UK Trade and Investment 
			 
			 August 1 8 Operations 
			  1 6 UK Trade and Investment

Departmental Redundancies

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many redundancies there were in his Department in each year since 1997; what the cost of such redundancies was in each such year; how many temporary staff were employed in each such year; and how many staff were seconded by outside organisations to the Department in each year.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The following table gives the number of compulsory redundancies made in each financial year by core DTI (including SBS and UKTI):
	
		
			   Number of staff 
			 1998 0 
			 1999 0 
			 2000 0 
			 2001 5 
			 2002 0 
			 2003 3 
			 2004 1 
			 2005 4 
			 2006 17 
		
	
	The information for pre-2004 redundancy charges could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The costs of redundancies since 2004 under the Civil Service Compensation Scheme, including continuing charges, have been as follows:
	
		
			  £000 
			   Cost 
			 2004-05 49 
			 2005-06 161 
			 2006-07 l,196 
		
	
	The number of agency staff in the Department fluctuates throughout the year and they were not categorised as such until mid-2004. The following figures are as at 1 October of each year:
	
		
			  1 October  Number of agency temps 
			 2004 179 
			 2005 180 
			 2006 87 
		
	
	The number of staff seconded into the Department, again as at 1 October of each year, was as follows:
	
		
			  1 October  Number of secondees into DTI 
			 1997 82 
			 1998 119 
			 1999 134 
			 2000 112 
			 2001 80 
			 2002 118 
			 2003 128 
			 2004 103 
			 2005 89 
			 2006 82

Departmental Staff

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of vacancies in his Department in the last 12 months required candidates to have at least a grade C in  (a) English and  (b) mathematics GCSE.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Recruitment to the DTI is competence based focussing on skills and experience rather than formal qualifications, and there may not be a specific requirement for new recruits to hold a particular type of qualification. These data are therefore not collected centrally.

Energy and Environmental Research Institute

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the new energy and environmental research institute that he announced in Budget 2006 is planned to be established; and how much the Government plan to grant to the institute in the first year of its existence.

Jim Fitzpatrick: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry published the prospectus for the Energy Technologies Institute on 14 September. It envisaged that the Institute would be legally established and fully operational in 2008, with 50:50 public/private sector funding. The prospectus also envisaged the following funding profile, if there are worthwhile projects available. The Government are committed to providing 50 per cent. of these funds.
	
		
			   Cost per annum (£ million) 
			 2006-07 2 
			 2007-08 20 
			 2008-09 (and onwards) (1)100 
			 (1 )Assumes £50 million p.a. is secured from private sector partners.

Energy Policy

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the feasibility of using thorium-powered nuclear reactors to help meet UK electricity demand.

Alistair Darling: It is for industry to decide what type of fuel to use in any future reactor systems. Industry proposals for a commercial thorium fuelled reactor would seem unlikely while there are ample supplies of uranium.

Joint Telescope Agreement

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the UK will withdraw from the joint telescope agreement with Australia; and what the annual savings will be to his Department.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The agreements between the Governments of the UK and Australia concerning the Anglo-Australian Telescope (AAT) will terminate with effect from 1 July 2010.
	The Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council (PPARC) is responsible for the funding of astronomical research. In financial year 2005-06, the UK's contribution to the costs of operation of the AAT, paid by PPARC, was £1.58 million. The reductions in annual financial contributions, as a result of the phased withdrawal from the Anglo-Australian telescope, will be approximately as follows:
	
		
			   £ million 
			 2006-07 0.7 
			 2007-08 1.1 
			 2008-09 1.2 
			 2009-10 1.3 
			 2010-11 1.5

Polar Research

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the future of an independent UK polar research capability, with particular reference to  (a) future funding,  (b) planned projects and  (c) pooling of resources.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The British Antarctic Survey (BAS) is part of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). BAS undertakes the majority of Britain's scientific research on and around the Antarctic continent. In addition, NERC supports the Antarctic Funding Initiative (AFI) which provides access to Antarctica for scientists from NERC and the UK's university community.
	NERC supports environmental research in the Arctic at UK universities and research institutes. NERC also leases buildings at the International Science Facility at Ny ?..lesund in Svalbard for the NERC Arctic Research Station, which BAS manages.
	 (a) and  (b) The BAS research programme is planned and funded on a five-year timetable and the current programme, 'Global Science in the Antarctic Context', ends on 31 March 2010, further details of which are available at www.antarctica.ac.uk. BAS has also received additional funding to construct a new research station at Halley, which will be operational for the 2009-10 Antarctic season.
	Details of the funding allocation to BAS are in the table:
	
		
			  £ million 
			   Resource Budget  Capital Budget  Total Budget 
			 2006-07 38.0 12.5 50.5 
			 2007-08 40.7 17.0 57.7 
			 2008-09 39.0 7.0 46.0 
			 2009-10 37.8 4.3 42.1 
		
	
	 (c) Co-operation within Antarctica on logistical matters is standard operational practice, and BAS has formal agreements with Chile, France, Italy, Germany, Netherlands and the USA.

FV Gaul

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will examine recent evidence and decide whether the formal investigation into the loss of the FV Gaul should be re-opened.

Stephen Ladyman: The Re-opened formal investigation into the loss of the FV Gaul was conducted with unprecedented thoroughness. The evidence was scrutinised by leading experts in the fields of oceanography, naval architecture and engineering.
	There is no reason to doubt the outcome of the expert analysis that led to the RFI's conclusions, and consequently there is no reason to reopen the investigation.

Railways

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many and what percentage of British trains were accessible by disabled people in each of the last 20 years.

Gillian Merron: The Department does not keep a breakdown by year of the number of accessible trains in service, as delivery schedules and use of older units often varies according to operational needs.

Railways

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the effect on different user groups of Network Rail's decision to cease publishing the National Rail Timetable in a book format.

Tom Harris: It is for Network Rail to make any necessary assessment, as the decision on whether to cease or continue publishing the national timetable in book format.

Railways

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with representatives from Network Rail on their decision to cease publishing the National Rail Timetable in a book format.

Tom Harris: The Secretary of State has had no such discussions, as the decision on whether to cease or continue publishing the national timetable in book format is one for Network Rail.

Railways

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from  (a) rail user groups and  (b) other stakeholders on Network Rail's decision to cease publishing the National Rail Timetable in a book format.

Tom Harris: No representations have been made by Passenger Focus or London Travelwatch, the statutory bodies representing passengers. No representations have been received from the train operators who run the trains. Some representations have been received from members of the public, either directly or through their Member of Parliament.

Railways

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what effect on costs he expects Network Rail to achieve by ceasing to publish the National Rail Timetable in a book format.

Tom Harris: It is for Network Rail to consider its costs in deciding how to publish the national timetable.

Road Accidents

Dennis Skinner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people have been killed in road traffic accidents in the East Midlands in the last five years.

Stephen Ladyman: The information requested was published in table 47 of 'Road Casualties Great Britain: 2005' on 28 September 2006. Copies of the publication have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Road Freight

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures the Government have introduced since 1997 to encourage the transfer of freight from road to  (a) rail and  (b) waterways.

Stephen Ladyman: Since 1997, direct support to promote mode shift from road to rail has been provided in the form of freight facilities grants, track access grants and company neutral revenue support. In addition, the Government have provided continued support to the rail freight industry through its policies towards the railways, specifically through the Railways Act 2005. These policies have contributed to considerable growth in rail freight moved in the period, up 46 per cent. between 1996-97 and 2005-06.
	In the same period, the Government have also awarded grants of £54 million for water freight schemes. These will have saved over one billion road miles worth of lorry journeys on our roads. Last year we introduced a new waterborne freight grant scheme to assist both inland waterways and shipping companies with their operating costs. Since 2002, we have also implemented the recommendations of the Freight Study Group, which the Government established to consider how more freight could be carried on inland waterways. This included the setting up and funding of Sea and Water, an organisation specifically set up to represent the industry and promote water freight. We have also funded the costs of a Sea and Water database to provide all the necessary information potential water freight customers.

Toll Bridges

David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many toll bridges there are in England; and what charges are made on each.

Stephen Ladyman: There are currently 13 bridges in England where a toll may be charged under statute to fund the finance, operation and maintenance costs of the undertaking.
	The following table lists the 13 statutory tolled bridges. Toll rates at each of these undertakings often vary based on the classification of vehicle using the particular bridge, therefore for simplicity the following only shows the maximum tolls chargeable (as at 27 October 2006) for motorcars and large goods vehicles.
	
		
			  Toll bridge  Motor car  Large good vehicle 
			 Aldwark Bridge (each way) 40p £.001 
			 Clifton Suspension Bridge (each way) 30p 30p 
			 Dunham Bridge (each way) 25p 50p to £1.00 
			 Humber Bridge (each way) £2.70 £10.90 to £18.30 
			 Itchen Bridge (each way) 60p £1 .20 to £25 
			 Rixton and Warburton Bridge (each way) 12p 12p 
			 Second Severn Bridge (one way) £4.90 £14.70 
			 Severn Bridge (one way) £4.90 £14.70 
			 Shrewsbury (Kingsland) Bridge (each way) 10p 10p 
			 Swinford Bridge (each way) 5p 5p (for two axles) or 10p per axle (over two axles) 
			 Tamar Bridge (one way) £1 £2.50 to £5.50 
			 Whitchurch Bridge (each way) 20p £2 
			 Whitney-on-Wye Bridge 50p 50p or £1.00 
		
	
	There are also a number of unregulated bridges where a toll is charged for the right to cross private land. A complete list of these bridges is not available. The table shown does not include estuarine crossings other than bridges or where the bridge is subject to a congestion charge rather than a toll.

Torremolinos Convention

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to ratify the International Marine Organisation's Torremolinos Convention.

Stephen Ladyman: European Directive 97/70/EC implemented a harmonised safety regime based on the 1993 Torremolinos Protocol. The safety standards were subsequently enhanced by Directive 2002/35/EC. The Government consider these standards exceed the requirements of the Protocol and that its ratification is therefore no longer necessary.

Tractors

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on the use of agricultural tractors for haulage on public highways; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: Most users of goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes need to hold an operators licence to perform haulage work on public highways. However, The Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Regulations 1995 allow for certain classes of vehicles to be exempt from this requirement. These exemptions are deliberately narrow in scope and apply mainly to specialist vehicles not often used on the public road.
	Currently, tractors are exempted when they are used on roads for specified agricultural purposes, e.g. hauling produce within 24 km of a farm. The Department for Transport are reviewing the existing operator licence exemptions, including those for agricultural vehicles, and we aim to consult formally on proposals later this year.

Tractors

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many  (a) motor tractors and  (b) agricultural tractors in (i) England, (ii) Wales and (iii) Scotland are registered with the DVLA.

Stephen Ladyman: Figures are only available on the numbers of those vehicles that were licensed with DVLA as at June 2006:
	 (a) The number of licensed motor tractors in England was 72,575, in Wales was 2,711 and in Scotland was 5,348.
	 (b) The number of licensed agricultural tractors in England was 193,302, in Wales was 23,866 and in Scotland was 33,238.

DEFRA Funding

Janet Dean: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will use monies from the Contingency Fund to increase the funds available to the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

John Healey: Defra is managing its current range of pressures within the departmental expenditure limit agreed at the 2004 spending review.

Economic Migration

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the effect on unemployment of the level of economic migration to the UK in each quarter since 2003; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: The Department of Work and Pensions analysed the effect of migrants from the new European Union member states from Central and Eastern Europe from May 2004 to November 2005. They found no discernible statistical evidence that these migrants had any impact on local unemployment rates. A copy of the report can be found at the following web address:
	www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/wp29.pdf.

EU Accounts

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with EU Finance Ministers on the transparency of the EU accounts since the publication of the last report of the Court of Auditors; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Balls: EU Finance Ministers will consider the European Court of Auditors Report on the 2005 EC Budget when this is presented at the 7 November ECOFIN meeting, and HM Treasury is in regular contact with other EU Finance Ministries. It is clearly disappointing that that Report, which was published on 24 October 2006, was once again unable to give a Positive Statement of Assurance on the bulk of 2005 EC Budget expenditure. This sends a negative message to European taxpayers and the UK and all other member states must work with the European Commission to ensure that improvements are made to the management of EC funds for which they are responsible.

Finance Acts

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many sections in Finance Acts have had retrospective consequences on the tax liability of  (a) individuals and  (b) companies since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Many sections of Finance Acts take effect from dates prior to the date on which the particular Act received Royal Assent. This is a well established and accepted feature of the way Parliament makes much of its fiscal legislation. The fact that provisions need to take practical effect prior to the passing of the Finance Bill is recognised, for example, by the Provisional Collection of Taxes Act which gives statutory effect to provisions in advance of the passing of the Finance Bill, in particular excise duties on alcohol, petrol and tobacco.

Firearms

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of firearms entering the UK in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The following table provides data on the number of firearms (including handguns, rifles and machine guns) legally imported into the UK from outside the EU since 2003. Intra-EU imports and data prior to 2003 are not available. HM Revenue and Customs has no estimate of the number of firearms illegally entering the UK.
	
		
			  Firearms imports 
			   Number 
			 2003 57,497 
			 2004 38,742 
			 2005 131,484 
			 2006 32,326

HM Revenue and Customs Staff

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many HM Revenue and Customs employees have been allocated to the reduction of the importation of  (a) controlled drugs,  (b) illegal firearms and  (c) illicit (i) alcohol and (ii) tobacco in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The following table provides data on annual HM Revenue and Customs staff years employed. The data for other prohibitions and restrictions (Other P and Rs) includes staff years employed on firearms. The recording system does not break the figures down beyond these four categories.
	Data prior to 2002-03 is not readily available.
	
		
			  Number of staff years employed 
			   Class A drugs  Alcohol  Tobacco  Other P and Rs 
			 2002-03 2623.4 869.7 2437.7 219.2 
			 2003-04 2742.3 828.0 2084.0 217.4 
			 2004-05 2877.6 767.0 1877.9 290.8 
			 2005-06 2503.8 742.2 2113.4 242.6

Illegal Imports

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in respect of what illegal items the HM Revenue and Customs has targets to reduce the level of imports; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: HM Revenue and Customs' public service agreement includes the target to maintain or increase the number of seizures from 2005-06 baselines of class A drugs and meat and other items seized under the products of animal origin regulations.

Islam and Muslim Affairs

Paul Goodman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what arrangements his Department has in place for offering him advice on Islam and matters relating to Muslims; and who his advisers are on Islam and Muslim affairs.

John Healey: Where appropriate officials provide advice on matters relating to Muslim communities. The Treasury has arrangements in place to provide for the participation of Muslim organisations in formal consultative bodies: for example, in the Direct and Indirect Tax Technical Groups looking at alternative forms of finance.
	The Department for Communities and Local Government is the lead Department on domestic matters relating to Muslim communities and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is the lead department on international matters. Where appropriate the Treasury seeks advice from these departments.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the cost of organised tax credits fraud in  (a) 2004-05 and  (b) 2005-06; and how many prosecutions for such fraud there have been.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to HM Revenue and Customs 2005-06 Accounts: The Comptroller and Auditor General's Standard Report, available at http://www.nao.org.uk/ and to the HMRC publication 'Tackling error and fraud in the Child and Working Tax Credits' available on the HMRC website at www.hmrc.gov.uk/news/index.htm.
	For numbers of prosecutions in 2004-05 I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 10 January 2006,  Official Report, columns 557-8W.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what total amount of tax credits fraud has been prevented since April 2001 by  (a) pre-payment and  (b) post-payment checks; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to HM Revenue and Customs 2005-06 Accounts: The Comptroller and Auditor General's Standard Report, available at http://www.nao.org.uk/

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of trends in the use of means other than the e-portal to attempt credit fraud since the closure of the tax credits e-portal.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to HM Revenue and Customs 2005-06 Accounts: The Comptroller and Auditor General's standard report, available at http://www.nao.org.uk/

Departmental IT

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many and what percentage of information technology projects undertaken by or for his Department since 2001 have been delivered  (a) over budget,  (b) after their original deadline,  (c) on budget,  (d) under budget,  (e) on their original deadline and  (f) ahead of their original deadline.

Peter Hain: Since 2001 the Wales Office have relied on IT services supplied first by the National Assembly for Wales, and then from April 2004 by the Department for Constitutional Affairs. No IT projects have been undertaken solely on behalf of the Wales Office in this period.

Household Statistics

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many children were recorded as living in households with no one in work in  (a) the UK,  (b) the North,  (c) South Tyneside and  (d) Jarrow constituency in each year since 1996.

James Plaskitt: Information is not available below Government Office Region or between the Government Office Region level and the national level.
	The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of children living in households where no-one is in work in: 
			  Spring  North West  North East  UK 
			 1996 306,000 144,000 2,383,000 
			 1997 324,000 123,000 2,214,000 
			 1998 339,000 133,000 2,216,000 
			 1999 317,000 135,000 2,156,000 
			 2000 274,000 118,000 1,980,000 
			 2001 266,000 108,000 1,915,000 
			 2002 280,000 96,000 1,978,000 
			 2003 286,000 122,000 1,892,000 
			 2004 249,000 105,000 1,861,000 
			 2005 237,000 89,000 1,814,000 
			 2006 220,000 83,000 1,744,000 
			  Notes:1. Figures for the UK are taken directly from the ONS first release and have not been adjusted for unknown economic activity. Figures for the North West and North East have been corrected for unknown economic activity.2. The Department's PSA 1b is based on a reduction in the proportion of children in workless households in Great Britain.3. The Office for National Statistics produced a statistical first release titled "Work and Worklessness among households" in July 2006. Source:ONS Household Labour Force Survey, spring quarters

Income Support

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was paid in income support in each year since 1996.

James Plaskitt: The available information is in the following tables.
	
		
			  Income support (including minimum income guarantee) expenditure in Great Britain (real terms, 2006-07 prices) 
			  £ million 
			   Income support for people: 
			   Over 60( 1)  Under 60 
			  Outturn:   
			 1995-96 5,094 16,775 
			 1996-97 4,827 13,451 
			 1997-98 4,637 10,069 
			 1998-99 4,335 9,790 
			 1999-2000 4,442 9,753 
			 2000-01 4,749 10,467 
			 2001-02 5,077 10,881 
			 2002-03 4,919 10,698 
			 2003-04 — 11,056 
			 2004-05 — 10,369 
			
			  Estimated outturn:   
			 2005-06 — 9,360 
			
			  Plans:   
			 2006-07 — 8,044 
			 (1) Including minimum income guarantee. 
		
	
	
		
			  Income support (including minimum income guarantee) expenditure in Great Britain (nominal) 
			  £ million 
			   Income support for people: 
			   Over 60( 1)  Under 60 
			  Outturn:   
			 1995-96 3,888 12,804 
			 1996-97 3,815 10,630 
			 1997-98 3,773 8,193 
			 1998-99 3,619 8,172 
			 1999-2000 3,781 8,302 
			 2000-01 4,095 9,026 
			 2001-02 4,486 9,615 
			 2002-03 4,484 9,753 
			 2003-04 — 10,344 
			 2004-05 — 9,914 
			
			  Estimated outturn:   
			 2005-06 — 9,137 
			  Plans:   
			 2006-07 — 8,044 
			 (1) Including minimum income guarantee. Notes:1. Minimum income guarantee was replaced by pension credit in October 2003. The 2002-03 outturn figures for those over 60 include some pension credit expenditure.2. Figures are consistent with the Budget Report 2006.3. Expenditure for 2005-06 reflects the latest benefit-by-benefit estimate of outturn, and not the amounts voted by Parliament. Source:DWP Expenditure tables

Winter Fuel Payments

Dennis Skinner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners received the winter fuel allowance in Bolsover constituency in  (a) 2002,  (b) 2003,  (c) 2004 and  (d) 2005.

James Purnell: The information is in the following table.
	
		
			   Payments made 
			 2002-03 18,960 
			 2003-04 19,230 
			 2004-05 19,190 
			 2005-06 19,380 
			  Notes:1. Figures rounded to the nearest 10.2. Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory. Source:Information Directorate, 100 per cent. Sample